What is doing this to my feed?

[saracarver3]

Anyone have any idea what is sneaking into the run and making these little balls of food at night? This morning I also found this dropping…this just started in the last week or two and now it’s every night. The birds eat it in the morning lol. Thanks!

 

[nuthatched]

Put away your feed at night. No idea what caused that.

 

[16 and me]

I can't tell how big the scat is by the picture, it looks like squirrel to me, and they have a tendancy to be messy eaters. That said it could be a skunk, weasel or some other critter that could be a predator to your chickens. Leaving food out leads pests and predators to your flock. Rats and other vermin can spread parasites and sickness, and they also draw in predators, looking for a vermin snack and find a chicken dinner instead! So you really want to keep food put away at night and bring it back out in the morning.