[andyoak]

On Satuarday I put some chicks in the main run/coop. Sunday morning one was dead. Yesterday two were dead so I have moved them back to the indoor pen. This morning a older bird has been killed, not an adult bird but one that was about 10 week old. One of it's legs was completely clean with no meat on it at all, just clean bone from it's body to it's foot.

I recently posted about a fox attack and have since built a new coop. This is timber built but with a concrete floor. The only gap I can see is one at the bottom of the sliding door which is the full width of the door, about 18", but only about and 1.5". I'd put a slab up to it on the outside but what ever it is that's getting in has found a gap about in inch and half square!

I have had a rat problem but I thought I was top side of it and havn't seen one in a couple of weeks. Does this sound like a rat or something else. I have got traps round the coop but not a touch. I think it might be easier to deal with if I know what I'm up against. I'm going to make the door fit better today to be on the safe side.

cheers 

Andy

[Sassy]

Hopefully you will get a more knowledgeable reply than mine but in predator terms a 1.5" gap is quite a lot. It could well be rats, stoats, weasels. They all have the ability to get through very small spaces. I hope you get it sorted it must be very distressing and I am really sorry.  

[Casey76]

It could be rats, or if could be mink or weasels too

[ehs284]

Fix the door. Use a metal strip on the bottom. Pee on it.

[ANHBUC]

Sorry you have lost some of your chicks.   

It sounds like something small like a rat if it has only eaten a little part of the bird.  Rats like running around the edges of things (rat runs) so you have to place your traps in the right place.  You should be able to see signs of their runs as they poo and pee as they run around.  Clear and droppings up each day and set your trap near to the only way they can squeeze into the run.  If you post some pictures of your setup other members may be able to advise on more security measures.  What size weldmesh have you used as they can get through the 1" x 1" ?

[andyoak]

I've fixed the door and set traps around the door and sides of the coop.

This morning something had tried to get in at the same place and had dug under the new piece of timber but hit concrete and failed to get in, all the birds were fine. Rats are more active at dawn and dusk but I'm not seeing anything [I did last time when I had issuses with them]. What ever it is seams to be coming under complete darkness and is smart enough to by pass the traps. I had 6 traps, different types and with different bait, all untouched.

The birds used to go in the coop but now seam to know it's not safe and I have had to get them down from trees tonight and put them to bed!

I've also at night and in the morning while the birds are in the coop been letting the dogs in the run, may be the smell on the dogs might put my visiter off. I'm hoping that if I can keep it out for long enough it will move on for it's meals.

Next step, stay up and keep guard!

[Diddy Gardener]

Wow, that sounds awful... you have my sympathy. Regarding your staying up all night... did you ever see the Jasper Carrot sketch about catching moles? Showing my age here, but you might want to consider his approach 

[ANHBUC]

One of the things you can do to find out what it is without staying up all night is put a shallow tray with softened clay in to get footprints.  Have seen it done on some wildlife program to find out if mink were on a riverbank. 

Hope you get it sorted soon without any more casualties.   

[andyoak]

Wow, that sounds awful... you have my sympathy. Regarding your staying up all night... did you ever see the Jasper Carrot sketch about catching moles? Showing my age here, but you might want to consider his approach 

I'd not seen it but just watched it on you tube, very funny. Hope I have more luck than poor old jasper, some how if I go off the rails with a shotgun I don't think I'll be inviting old bill in the house for a glass of beer!

BTW night 2 with no casualties but more digging.

[andyoak]

well a bit of an update.

A few nights after my last post I caught a rat but it was only quite a small un and i didn't think it was big enougth to tackle a chicken. I was expecting things to continue but everything is quite. May be it was the rat?

Fingers crossed for now

[ANHBUC]

   That is good news.

[Sassy]

If it was a small rat there are likely to be larger rats around. I would stay vigilant and continue to lay your traps. Good luck

[joyfull]

yes keep laying those traps - where you see one young rat his mum, dad, brothers, sisters, aunties and uncles won't be far away  . But you may also have mink living where you do - in the past year I have had 3 mink attacks so now my free rangers will be going in a mink proof, rat proof and fox proof run.