I have a small flock. Two of my hens are now dead. I'm pretty sure it happened during the day while lightly snowing. I can't be sure but I was told they were all there this morning when my son went to fill their water and give them their morning treats. Then this evening I went to check on them and give them some more treats. They were all downstairs like they were scared yo go up the ramp. Two of them were headless. I saw two circular tunnels dug through the snow and then a small hole dug under the run wall with both of the dead hens by it. It looks like something tried to pull them through it but they were to big to fit. Both of them were missing their heads and one had some of it's chest missing. I'm devastated, and feel so much guilt. It's my job to protect them and I failed. I locked the rest of them upstairs, ripped out the ramp, covered the exit hole with a panel and put a conder block on top of it. This has really rocked our little world, they've always free ranged and went to bed when they felt like it then I would lock the coop and run up. I didn't let them out today because they wouldn't of been able to get through the snow so they must of tried their best to escape the murderer but were trapped in there, poor things. I'm thinking a weasel? But it had to of happened during the day. My questions are, what hunts during the day that's small enough to crawl under the coop and how long should I wait to let them have freedom again? Once they can free range again and not be snowed in do you think they'll be okay again? Or do you think whoever did this will hunt them now even when they're free ranging my fenced in backyard?
