Wounds on chick and bunny heads??

[User635240]

Hi, two of my 2-month-old chicks, and 2 of my rabbit kits all appeared with serious wounds on their heads, above their eyes. One of the chicks lost a good portion of the skin on her skull. The bunny's head looked like it was bitten. I know there are rats in the coop and I have been fighting them for months, but they have never interacted with my livestock before. There is a also a mink nearby that got one of my hens in broad daylight inside the coop.
Could this be a rabid rat, or other type of animal?
I will post pictures if needed tomorrow.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Photos can be helpful.

Do you need help with wound care?

Rats would be my guess. I would think a Mink would have eaten or even carried off their prey.

 

[User635240]

Photos can be helpful.

Do you need help with wound care?

Rats would be my guess. I would think a Mink would have eaten or even carried off their prey.

OK thanks for the insights. Here are photos of two of the bunnies and one of the chicks. The purple dye on the bunnies is antiseptic. Could the rats have eaten the chicks? I think some are missing.

 

[DLA]

EcoClear Products RatX All-Natural Poison Free Humane Rat and Mouse Rodenticide Pellets, 8 oz. Bag​

Might be rats. I have used the mouse version (MouseX) this on occasion around my coop/run and in my garage with no issues, it kills the rodents just as it says. You can get it on amazon.
Don't put it where any pets or livestock can eat the pellets it but if they happen to eat a rat or mouse that died from consuming it, it's not supposed to hurt them. I put it in a container with a hole only big enough for a mouse or rat to enter.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

OK thanks for the insights. Here are photos of two of the bunnies and one of the chicks. The purple dye on the bunnies is antiseptic. Could the rats have eaten the chicks? I think some are missing.

I'd just keep an eye on the wounds and care for them so they don't get infected.

If the chicks are small enough, a large rat could eat them. You mentioned a Mink, so that may be the culprit is you have some missing.

Do you have a camera or game cam you can set up in that area to see what's coming in?

If you have rats, work on eliminating them. It can be a challenge. Rats are smart, so you may have to change methods, trap some, bait some, etc.

 

[User635240]

I'd just keep an eye on the wounds and care for them so they don't get infected.

If the chicks are small enough, a large rat could eat them. You mentioned a Mink, so that may be the culprit is you have some missing.

Do you have a camera or game cam you can set up in that area to see what's coming in?

If you have rats, work on eliminating them. It can be a challenge. Rats are smart, so you may have to change methods, trap some, bait some, etc.

Ok thanks.
I wonder though, there have been rats in the barn for 9 months now . I've killed maybe 100. Why would they start biting the small animals just now? Could this be a sign of rabies, or, just that there are now small animals present with the rats for the first time?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If you've never had chicks or babies in the barn, then this may be why you're seeing injury now.
The rats may leave adults alone.