hello folks, i need to get rid of a chicken thief. I have 7 hens with young chickens just behind my house (real close) i have them in round wire cages, holes spaced 2"x4" and the young chickens can come and go. They roost under the hens at night.
Well this morning at 2:30 i was awakened by a hen cackling and something got all 8 of her chicks.
No feathers or anything. never got the hen. What varmint would get them thru the wire ?
I also lost a hen and 6 chicks about 2 wks ago that was running loose,about 4:00 in the morning,she was roosting in a weed patch,i only found a few feathers.
Lost one setting on 12 eggs in a weed patch, just a few feathers also,never got the eggs.
I have beagles kenneled no more than 50 ft. away and they never bark.
Whatever it is,slips in and is gone quickly.
I plan on setting some #2 coils and 2 live traps today.
What type bait, tips, etc... thank you Dave in KY.

Weasels, mink, coon. I think you need a trail cam and smaller chicken wire.
Good luck, catch that thief!

are your pens open topped-no roof? if so owls may be your problem. the outside roosters could fall prey to any of the four legged variety. Whats your location-house rules.

Sounds like a owl or coon . It also sounds like you need to build a new pen or go over the one you have . Have plywood where the birds will be roosting at night . Have this pen up off the ground and have them on 1"x 1/2" wire so there crap drops down out of the pen . You will loose all your birds you don't fix the pen ether by animals or them living in there own filth . The idea pen gives them room so they dont peck each other to death . Shelter from weather and animals . And self cleaning .

Let's not forget fox. If there is no top on your pen a fox can climb the wire and slip right out again before you know what hit you. Then there is still the weasel, mink, coon threat.

You really need a game camera and a better pen.

My chicken yard had two layers of fencing around it. 2X4 welded dog fence on the outside of the 4" post and 3/4" chicken wire on the inside of the post. The chicken wire was small enough to keep even the little bitties inside while keeping weasels and rats at bay. The 2X4 welded wire keep larger predators like dogs and coons from tearing out the chicken fence. Now, if I could have just kept the fox from climbing....

I know you guys ain't going to believe this but I saw chicken all cut up and ready for the pan at a grocery store; and they even had eggs in these little cardboard cartons. Makes you wonder how they kept the predators out!

well dont know if he was the thief but caught a big male yote last nite. used dirt hole set with a rock for a back drop and hiawatha bait.