- Aug 15, 2014
- 12
- 4
- 26
There has to be one thing over looked, & Shame on me!
Being a Country person most my life , you would think I would know just about all when comes to "predators "
I put a lengthy story in about if I was over indulging my birds which lead to there death, where in fact a set of new seeing glasses and a med.report from a local
Mink! Yes those little long lengthy critters who has a taste for blood >frog's, fish,baby birds , baby rabbits,& chickens & have a very nasty temper!
Thing is along time ago about 30+ years I use to water & feed thousands of these ummmmmmm, he! he! lil fella's for a farm in upstate NY. for a well known at that time tourist attraction 1.000 Animals In Lake PlacId , NY. ABOUT 35 YRS AGO! My first real job!
A hole the size of "a pencil eraser" in the neck of one hen slit side ways from canine teeth of a dark brown mink led to the death of my two girls! Crushing their windpipe & breaking their neck! within less then an hour & myself nor my dog heard anything ! My dog can hear a deer walk across the lawn inside house with out seeing it & raccoon even a possum!
But not this guy!!!!!!
I am getting to my point !{Fort Knox) Our RUN & COOP!
360 DESIGN FRAMED OUT WITH FENCE
Latch lock's for window's on all doors & spring hooks double chained on main cage due to bears around
12inch skirt with rocks 20lb.s or more around & onto of skirt for digging PRED'TR'S.
Even with 8 inch underground vinyl covered 2 X3 in. garden fencing full floor of run!
One would think of Heck nothing going to get in there maybe a mouse?
Never thought of the 3x3 inch chain link holes which is big enough for a wild Mink to stick it's head through Seems we think of every thing! and things so simple slip our minds !!!I am sad to say was my fault as I guess with all we can only do so much! & there's always something missing or we could do more! never think!! nothing can get in one has to think like a predator to detain one or keep one from entry in all forms shapes & size's .!!!!chicken wire will be installed this day!! TOP TO BOTTOM & FRONT TO BACK! These bad boy's & girls can climb!!!!!
You may want to know how I new color? of mink?
Looking for trace of hen which was removed & put on top of 4 foot run for later examination was gone couple hrs. later & found in brook 20 yds. away being dragged by mink of brown color! Mink split / took off , leaving headless carcass.
I have pic's thought was a bit graphic to put in here of bite area's shape and dissection to find int'l cause besides bite hit a main vein and crushed neck bone.
My girl's were around 20+ lb. so you can imagine how strong these 18 to 24 inch critters are & nasty, nasty, nasty!!! Temper wise !!!