4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[motherchuck]

At 5.30 this morning, my three hens were making a dreadful racket - bocking! I went out to see what all the commotion was about to find a soft shelled egg in the run, a pile of feathers in the corner of the run by the Eglu and a few feathers in the Eglu itself.. Thankfully all 3 chucks were uninjured and there was no sign of any blood. All three have lost feathers but there are no bald patches. I am sur a fox has not got into the run, as there are no signs of entry; the Eglu and run are on the lawn. I wonder if a weasel could have squeezed through the mesh. What is puzzling is the fact that most of the feathers were in one place, wouldn't the hens have panicked if they were being attacked? We didn't hear a thing until the bocking started (the run is under the bedroom window which was open). 'Tub Hub' thinks they may have been fighting. Does any one have any ideas? I would be very grateful for any suggestions.

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear it.

 

It could have been a fox.....hens are pretty dim and trusting and don't always move away from predators.

 

It could have been a weasel, stoat or mink if they are present in your area, or even a rat.

 

I'd lock them into the Eglu at night if I were you, for the time being at least.

[koo2cat]

Sounds like a rat to me from my past experience! We had a rat problem last year and one of them attacked one of the hens and left a pile of feathers in the run. It happened at about the same time of day. Are there any signs of tunneling under the run mesh? A small rat could easily squeeze through the run mesh though.

[woffle]

from hearing about an experience with Mink I don't think they're the culprit - there would be a great deal more mess and a whole lot less chicken if they were to blame...

[motherchuck]

Thanks for the replies and ideas. I spent all day yesterday thinking who the culprit could be. I have come to the conclusion that it was probably a weasel. There were no signs at all of tunnelling, and I think the only thing that could have actually got into the Omlet run is a weasel. I don't think they were attacked through the mesh because where the feathers were is a shower curtain down to the ground and this was not damaged at all. Also, there were the feathers in the Eglu. I guess that the intruder squeezed through the run mesh, went into the Eglu, woke the poor girls up, they then went out and then were attacked in the run. Either that or they had a fight, but I feel sure I would have heard them. I locked them in the Eglu last night so had to be up early this morning but a small price to pay for the safety of my lovely chucks! I wonder if weasels have good memories and whether this one is likely to try its luck again! I will be locking the door at night from now on, certainly for a good while anyway.