Poor Lulu, my clucky mama hen and her three chicks were attacked by a rat last night, one chick has died .
Lulu and other three seem ok this morning.
Was watching Bruce Willis hostage film which was just getting tense when realised I could hear the chicks, then Lulu going ballsiitic and lots of thudding (she is in the ark in back garden). I screamed (poor DH, he was asleep) and legged it outside shouting, thought it was a fox, whole ark rocking and two chicks in the flower bed. Opened back door of ark Lulu jumped out then a big rat shot past my feet.
Lulu gathered chicks, DH arrived with torch and when I moved the nest box for a head count found third chick badly bitten and dead.
Really upsetting. Rat proofed ark with bricks and a fire guard but am going to add some extra netting today.