Trying ID Burrowing Predator

[Swey]

One of our hens was killed over the weekend while we were gone. I looked around the coop and noticed something has been burrowing all over the place and managed to get underneath the wire that goes down 6” all around the coop. There are multiple holes coming up that measure about 3”. The tunneling looks pretty extensive. What animal is doing this? I’m guessing whatever it is killed the chicken but it seems crazy considering how small the holes are. I have no idea where the holes are originating from so it’s kind of hard to fix the problem. Thanks for any help.

 

[Noraaaaa]

One of our hens was killed over the weekend while we were gone. We live in Massachusetts. I looked around the coop and noticed something has been burrowing all over the place and managed to get underneath the wire that goes down 6” all around the coop. There are multiple holes coming up that measure about 3”. The tunneling looks pretty extensive. What animal is doing this? I’m guessing whatever it is killed the chicken but it seems crazy considering how small the holes are. I have no idea where the holes are originating from so it’s kind of hard to fix the problem. Thanks for any help.

I think that it may be a weasel. It could also be a mink.

 

[aart]

Could be rats tunneling then weasels taking advantage.
What did her body look like(wounds etc)?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That looks like rat holes. Rats can occasionally kill poultry, usually they chew the head or feet off. It is possible a mink, or weasel got in through those holes. How was the chicken killed?

 

[Swey]

Here is your duplicate post (with pictures). You may want to ask admin to combine these two posts.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/trying-id-burrowing-predator.1647480/

Thank you. First time posting and I was doing it from my phone. Double posted! Here are the two photos.

 

[WingItRanch]

Thank you. First time posting and I was doing it from my phone. Double posted! Here are the two photos.

No worries. BYC staff saw my comment and already merged so everything is now under this post!

I agree that it may be a mink or similar weasely animal.

 

[Swey]

No worries. BYC staff saw my comment and already merged so everything is now under this post!

I agree that it may be a mink or similar weasely animal.

Thank you for all of the responses. I have a camera on the coop, which was unfortunately down for this attack, but I’ve definitely seen a weasel-like animal sniffing around several times over the years. Now I need to figure out how to stop the burrowing.

 

[aart]

managed to get underneath the wire that goes down 6” all around the coop.

Yeah, 6" is nothing for most serious diggers.

Now I need to figure out how to stop the burrowing.

Good examples of anti-dig apron installation.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wire-around-coop.1110498/#post-17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

 

[McChooky]

One of our hens was killed over the weekend while we were gone. I looked around the coop and noticed something has been burrowing all over the place and managed to get underneath the wire that goes down 6” all around the coop. There are multiple holes coming up that measure about 3”. The tunneling looks pretty extensive. What animal is doing this? I’m guessing whatever it is killed the chicken but it seems crazy considering how small the holes are. I have no idea where the holes are originating from so it’s kind of hard to fix the problem. Thanks for any help.

Even a fox can squeeze thru a 3" hole so in the grand scheme of things those are considered big holes.The only predator I know that dig so many holes are rats. I've not had anything breach my coop yet fortunately knock on wood.It would help to know if the chicken was carried off or if it left a corpse with specific parts eaten. Sorry for your loss!

 

[McChooky]

Thank you. First time posting and I was doing it from my phone. Double posted! Here are the two photos.

Cover your apron with gravel after extending it out about a foot or two. If you take trips out of town for days or are gone a lot you need a better apron because they have more time to dig undetected.