The woodchuck, also known as a groundhog, does not typically eat chickens. This common rodent, Marmota monax, is primarily an herbivore and lacks the predatory instincts needed to hunt adult poultry. While seeing a woodchuck near a chicken coop can cause alarm, the danger they pose relates to their burrowing habits and competition for feed, not preying on your flock. Their presence often signals an underlying issue that may allow other, more dangerous animals access to the birds.
The Groundhog Diet
Woodchucks are classified as true herbivores, meaning their diet is almost exclusively plant-based. They forage on a wide variety of vegetation, primarily consuming grasses, clover, alfalfa, and dandelions. A significant portion of their daily intake consists of fresh greens and garden vegetables like peas, carrots, and beans.
Although their diet is overwhelmingly vegetarian, woodchucks are occasionally considered opportunistic omnivores. They may consume small amounts of insects or invertebrates like snails and June bugs, but this consumption is usually incidental. Their digestive system and teeth are specifically evolved for grinding fibrous plant material, not for a carnivorous diet, meaning they are not equipped to hunt larger prey like a chicken.
Why Groundhogs Are Suspected
Suspicion often falls on the woodchuck because it is a large, diurnal mammal frequently observed near human structures, including chicken coops. Woodchucks are known for their extensive burrowing, and they will dig dens under sheds, porches, or coops for shelter and to raise their young. The resulting tunnels can undermine the structural integrity of the coop, creating a collapse risk.
A woodchuck may also be drawn to the area by spilled chicken feed or the availability of garden scraps, viewing these as easy sources of vegetation. The real concern regarding their presence is that their abandoned burrows can inadvertently provide a ready-made, sheltered entry point for actual predators to access the coop.
Actual Predators of Chickens
The animals that pose a genuine threat to a chicken flock are typically carnivores or dedicated omnivores with predatory instincts. Raccoons are a common nighttime threat known for their dexterity, often managing to unlatch doors or tear through fencing to reach poultry. Raccoon attacks are frequently identified by the head or crop being targeted, and they may injure birds through the wire without fully entering the coop.
Foxes and coyotes are canines that often hunt during the day or at dusk. They are known to carry off a single bird entirely, leaving little evidence behind at the scene. Weasels and minks are smaller but highly aggressive predators that often kill multiple birds in a single event, sometimes leaving the carcasses piled up. These smaller predators often target the head and neck, sometimes leaving a musky odor behind.
Opossums and skunks are opportunistic nocturnal animals that generally prefer eggs and chicks, but they may attack a weak or sick adult bird. Unlike the woodchuck, these animals possess the predatory drive and hunting methods necessary to breach a coop and kill poultry. Identifying specific signs, such as a completely missing bird or multiple kills with head injuries, is helpful for determining the actual culprit.