What killed my neighbour's bantams

[werdnal]

I know there have been posts on the bird section about buzzards taking bantams, but this happened at night when the birds were safely shut indoors - or not so safely as it transpired.

Yesterday morning, our elderly neighbour opened his shed to let out his birds, to find 2 banties dead on the floor, minus their heads. The shed is stone built (former pig sty) and the only access being the small gaps between the corrugated galvanise roofing sheets and the top of the wall. Obviously something small got in and killed the banties, but couldn't get them out. He has had problems with rats in the past - would a rat do this? We suggested stoat/weasel, and another neighbour has apparently seen a mink not far away (a small stream runs right past us).

Any suggestions on the likely culprit please?

[Kayleigh]

I would say rat..

[Dogghound]

Sounds like a typical mustelid kill, if access is restricted more likely a small species like a stoat or weasel. The head is often eaten due to it containing the briain which is high in nutrients. Im not aware of rats being so specific in their feeding behaviour, when ive seen hens killed by rats they have been eaten at random, usually around the belly and vent.

[werdnal]

Thanks for replies. I know rats can get through very tight spaces, and having seen weasels, it wouldn't be a problem for them either. How small a hole can a stoat or mink get through?

A bit concerned now as we have pigeons, and wondering whether we should check out our shed for possible entry sites if if its a mustelid predator!

[davecatt]

Rats,Weasel. I've seen the same thing several times. Check round,fill all gaps, but if your neighbour has a run for the birds then, if the diameter of the mesh is more than half an inch, either replace it with a smaller mesh or give up on keeping birds of any sort (Other than perhaps a bird of prey)
Dave

[wizzo]

For me, that sounds like a typical weasel attack. I agree, that Rats would be more likely to have attacked the whole bird. Either way, it's not a nice thing to happen, but that's nature I guess. Wizz