What's killing my chickens???

[Brunty_Farms]

Probably a coon. Do what your doing but keep your traps outside the barn. No that you closed everything up you want to get him when he is outside. I doubt he is sleeping in your barn... you would have noticed this earlier plus you would have seen the destruction they make.

Canned cat food is a good suggestion and I always use tunna in a can. (in my opinion the stuff smells the same)

Good luck... they are relentless creatures.... but you are going to need something bigger than a squirl trap. Your local TSC or if you have Harbor Freights by you... they both carry the have a heart trap... they are more like a "have a death wish" trap to me.

 

[lilcrow]

I'm curious Jeff, what clues make you think this is a raccoon?

 

[coloradochick]

I had a Silkie get killed and when I found her in the yard in August. She had her head missing and there was a hole directly in her stomach that had the instestines pulled through. We have coons, fox, and cats around here. I'm leaning towards the coon, they live in the ditch on the other side of the road. Sounds like that's what you're dealing with unless you have weasels where you are.
Good luck finding the culprit.

 

[DTOWNGIRL]

Another update...Traps were set last night...nothing captured! Cleaned the entire barn top to bottom...found two areas where it looks like something had chewed a hole near the roof...patched the areas, caulked them as

well...keep your fingers crossed...hopefully we've solved the problem!!!

 

[DTOWNGIRL]

Final Update...it was a RAT!!! We closed off every problem area and will continue to set traps for awhile. THANK YOU to everyone who gave suggestions and ideas!

 

[huppfarm]

glad to have been of assistance!
very glad you found out who or what it was!