Wondering what did this? Chewing

[aart]

Is there something that I can treat the wood with to deter them from chewing?

Hot Wire.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Could also be a rat wanting to get in to eat feed, as I had rat damage that looked like that.

 

[Flockandfowl46]

I would dispatch the animal (but not relocate!) Also I've heard peppermint oil but not sure about safety for your chickens I'll get back to you shortly on that

 

[Flockandfowl46]

Wow just checked up on the peppermint oil and says is safe...as a matter of fact says it deters mites...two birds one stone!

 

[roosterhavoc]

There was somebody on here years ago that thought it was a good idea to feed a whole family of raccoons. Eventually they ate all her chickens. Shocker.

 

[jess924]

spicy chicken... roosterhavoc cracks me up!

I've seen squirrels chew like that also.

Wow if it’s squirrels we have them by the bus full...they are insane around here...

 

[jess924]

Hot Wire.

Would definitely love to do that! Something we have on the to-do list

 

[jess924]

hubby went out to close the coop windows as it’s crazy windy tonight and caught the culprit in action...a rat. Gotta get a trap...would love to use a .22 but alas just too close to neighbors and in a very democratic state

 

[WVduckchick]

hubby went out to close the coop windows as it’s crazy windy tonight and caught the culprit in action...a rat. Gotta get a trap...would love to use a .22 but alas just too close to neighbors and in a very democratic state

 

[Kessel23]

View attachment 1540168 have some new chewing type marks on our coop/run...we are in western MA and pretty rural. Have a # of predators including skunks, foxes, opossums, and deer to name a few I have personally seen...wondering who did this...my coop is pretty secure with hardware cloth bottom secured and buried and all hardware cloth sides...don’t believe they can breach but want to know if there is maybe something else?

I hate it when deer get my chickens. I liked that cayenne pepper comment, I would definitely do that, it sound hilarious, I will have to start mixing cayenne pepper in with my live trap bait just to mess with the predators.