Mink attack...

fancychickens4mygirls · Sunday at 1:56 AM

We just had a mink attack our coop tonight. Thankfully my husband caught it before it got too bad, but we might end up loosing one. Any suggestions on how to secure the pen better, so we can try to prevent this from happening again? We have hard wire only 3 feet up from the ground over dog fence, hard wire is also yard stapled to the ground on goes out a foot. We have preditor lights on each side of the run. We did leave the hen house door open, but will be closing it at night now. Chicken wire and tarp over the top.

LateBirdFarms · Sunday at 2:42 AM

After having 16 birds slaughtered by a stoat in under an hour, I've found nothing short 1/4" hardware cloth will keep out a weasel. If you leave one of your fresh dead chickens out as bait, it may come back for you to dispatch as you please, but they're quick little murder monsters. Sometimes a mass of chicken organs, the bloodier the better can tempt them into a live trap, but I personally have never had any luck catching one after Mt father was unable to set them up for me. Never was sure what I was doing differently but I sure wish I had paid closer attention when he was still able.

They can fit through regular chainlink like there's nothing there, you'll have to be pretty diligent until you catch or kill your culprit. Fingers crossed its working alone and doesn't have a horde of adorable little murder babies with it. The one I dealt with came back day and night trying to find a way back in after we fixed our problem area, so best of luck to you and your flock.

Callender Girl · Sunday at 5:45 AM

I am very sorry about the attack and hope you can save your girl.

ALWAYS close your coop door, especially if your run isn't "predator proof"! Forgetting one night cost me three of my four original hens to a mink. I got outside and gave chase too late. I knew it would come back and waited for it, armed with a three-tined cultivator and night vision headlamp. Had there not been a hole in the back hay shed wall, I would have killed the wretched murderer. I did not sleep well for a very long time afterwards, convinced every outdoor sound signaled another attack.

Chicken wire and a tarp won't stop a mink. I have spent a fortune on hardware cloth but it's bought me more peace of mind.

KyCoop · Sunday at 6:55 AM

No holes or gaps bigger than a hot dog anywhere.

fancychickens4mygirls · Sunday at 9:13 AM

LateBirdFarms said:
After having 16 birds slaughtered by a stoat in under an hour, I've found nothing short 1/4" hardware cloth will keep out a weasel. If you leave one of your fresh dead chickens out as bait, it may come back for you to dispatch as you please, but they're quick little murder monsters. Sometimes a mass of chicken organs, the bloodier the better can tempt them into a live trap, but I personally have never had any luck catching one after Mt father was unable to set them up for me. Never was sure what I was doing differently but I sure wish I had paid closer attention when he was still able.

They can fit through regular chainlink like there's nothing there, you'll have to be pretty diligent until you catch or kill your culprit. Fingers crossed its working alone and doesn't have a horde of adorable little murder babies with it. The one I dealt with came back day and night trying to find a way back in after we fixed our problem area, so best of luck to you and your flock.

Callender Girl said:
I am very sorry about the attack and hope you can save your girl.

ALWAYS close your coop door, especially if your run isn't "predator proof"! Forgetting one night cost me three of my four original hens to a mink. I got outside and gave chase too late. I knew it would come back and waited for it, armed with a three-tined cultivator and night vision headlamp. Had there not been a hole in the back hay shed wall, I would have killed the wretched murderer. I did not sleep well for a very long time afterwards, convinced every outdoor sound signaled another attack.

Chicken wire and a tarp won't stop a mink. I have spent a fortune on hardware cloth but it's bought me more peace of mind.

Ok. It sounds like we will need more hardware cloth around the coup and continue to shut the door no matter what. We thought we were predator proof, since we have been good for the last three years. Thank you.

Folly's place · Sunday at 9:58 AM

Any openings larger than 1/2" diameter are too big!!!
Try trapping this one, only if you will then shoot it. More will come, and many of us have learned the hard way that our chicken housing was inadequate. Start by fixing your coop issues, then the run. Your mink may return during the day, so you might need to keep those birds inside for a while.
Hope you can fix your coop today! Then keep the flock in it while your run gets upgraded.
Mary

fancychickens4mygirls · Sunday at 10:06 AM

Folly's place said:
Any openings larger than 1/2" diameter are too big!!!
Try trapping this one, only if you will then shoot it. More will come, and many of us have learned the hard way that our chicken housing was inadequate. Start by fixing your coop issues, then the run. Your mink may return during the day, so you might need to keep those birds inside for a while.
Hope you can fix your coop today! Then keep the flock in it while your run gets upgraded.
Mary

Thank you Folly's Place. The mink is dead. At least that one. It kept trying to attack the chicken even as it was dying. Crazy! Okay, good to know to keep the hens in for today. I was thinking that anyways until I can figure out a way to clean up the blood in the run. Any good suggestions what to lay on the ground to help cover up the blood? It is a dirt floor at this point because the hens have eaten all of the grass.

Folly's place · Sunday at 10:14 AM

Add shavings or wood chips , way better than a dirt floor anyway.
If you have a mess, shovel out the worst of it, or turn it over. Glad you were able to get that mink! For dirt runs, plant scraps (not toxic weeds!), wood chips (not black walnut) and shavings are all good. Some hay or straw, not a lot in the mix. Some people shovel out the coop shavings right into their dirt run, also fine.
'Predator lights' just give the varmits better lighting to get their chicken dinners, sorry.
Mary

fancychickens4mygirls · Sunday at 10:38 AM

Folly's place said:
Add shavings or wood chips , way better than a dirt floor anyway.
If you have a mess, shovel out the worst of it, or turn it over. Glad you were able to get that mink! For dirt runs, plant scraps (not toxic weeds!), wood chips (not black walnut) and shavings are all good. Some hay or straw, not a lot in the mix. Some people shovel out the coop shavings right into their dirt run, also fine.
'Predator lights' just give the varmits better lighting to get their chicken dinners, sorry.
Mary

Okay, so we can use hay or straw? We tend to throw our dirty shavings into the woods. I saw Tractor Supply has Sweet PDZ, have you tried that or something like it? Here I thought the predator lights were helping keep our chickens safe for the last 3 years.

Callender Girl · Sunday at 11:37 AM

Let's hope your mink was a male. According to sources I found after my massacre, a male mink will have an exclusive territory while females will have overlapping ones.

I added flashing solar lights AFTER the mink attack. Whether or not they really help, at least it makes me feel better. And, I thought my set-up was predator-proof -- until I learned it wasn't. Even with the door closed at night, I realized that the run, which was designed to keep out large predators, like coyotes, wasn't adequate for stopping sneaky little killers.

How's your survivor doing?

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