4 Dead Hens

[roosterhavoc]

What animals are you trying to catalog? You’ve never actually caught a mink using bloody chicken as bait in the back of a havahart? I’m sorry I’m a little confused.

 

[annampet]

Thank you for your words so far everyone. We haven't done a full, complete examination of the coop. We went into salvation mode and got our remaining hen into a complete, predator proof coop/run set up that we had attached to our home built portion. It's a starter coop from TSC so the materials aren't the best but I know nothing can get in to it.
We have a good family friend that's a trapper, so I know I can get traps if we decide to go that route and we're a responsible hunting family, we have no issue removing a pest. We had a "raccoon relocation program" last summer and relocated 5, a sixth we had to shoot because it got in to the coop twice (with no chicken loss, caught both times).

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

Thank you for your words so far everyone. We haven't done a full, complete examination of the coop. We went into salvation mode and got our remaining hen into a complete, predator proof coop/run set up that we had attached to our home built portion. It's a starter coop from TSC so the materials aren't the best but I know nothing can get in to it.
We have a good family friend that's a trapper, so I know I can get traps if we decide to go that route and we're a responsible hunting family, we have no issue removing a pest. We had a "raccoon relocation program" last summer and relocated 5, a sixth we had to shoot because it got in to the coop twice (with no chicken loss, caught both times).

Sounds like you can get it under control then! Keep us posted

 

[cmom]

I’ve caught a fair few long tailed weasels and a few short tailed weasels. Never got a mink or a stoat. And yes, the .22 and body grip trap should kill the animal. The havahart is a live trap and you may be able to relocate the weasel if it is allowed in your area. The recommendation is to release 10miles from where trapped. I place my traps by streams of bodies of water. If they got into the coop I would place near the coop. Always make sure the bait is far enough in so the animal cannot steal the bait.

In some places it is illegal to relocate. Here it's lawful but you are supposed to get the landowners permission which is really not done. I live in a rural area on a dead end road and now and then people drop off their relocations or animals they don't want. Once some years ago someone dropped off a baby goose in my driveway. I took care of it and found it a home. When I catch, I don't release. I don't want to give someone else something I don't want on my property and even if you do eliminate or relocate one critter another is likely to move in. I have game cameras up in different spots on my property and sometimes I will move a couple to different spots. I see most of the predators from dusk to dawn on at least one of the cameras pretty much every day. I see mostly coyotes and fox, sometimes, possums, coons, bobcat, cats and dogs. I use the live traps because I don't want to catch someones pet in a leg trap or other.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

In some places it is illegal to relocate. Here it's lawful but you are supposed to get the landowners permission which is really not done. I live in a rural area and now and then people drop off their relocations or animals they don't want. Once some years ago someone dropped off a baby goose in my driveway. I took care of it and found it a home. When I catch, I don't release. I don't want to give someone else something I don't want on my property and even if you do eliminate or relocate one critter another is likely to move in. I have game cameras up in different spots on my property and sometimes I will move a couple to different spots. I see most of the predators from dusk to dawn on at least one of the cameras pretty much every day. I see mostly coyotes and fox, sometimes, possums, coons, bobcat, cats and dogs. I use the live traps because I don't want to catch someones pet in a leg trap or other.
View attachment 1707094 View attachment 1707095

Yes. This is a good post on the relocation. I live in Hoosier national but I still have to have permission from another at the conservation office before I relocate Willy-nilly.

 

[annampet]

Def good info. In our area it is legal to capture and relocate raccoons that are a nuisance as long as you relocate within the same county. We live in an area with lots of state land so it is possible for us to relocate far enough away for them to not return. That of course, doesn't stop others from moving in

 

[50-45-1]

I have caught 2 weasels using a bloody piece of the chicken it had killed the night before.
I used a small have a heart trap with the meat wired to the pan so the critter really has to work to get it.
And yes a Weasel can fit thru a pretty small hole. The first weasel i had trouble with gained entrance by a knot hole in a floor board, maybe just a hair larger than one inch. Something you might think only a mouse could fit thru.
There is also a weasel box you can build from scrap boards that has a ret trap inside.

http://www.ecofarmingdaily.com/snap-build-a-weasel-trap-to-protect-your-poultry/

By the way, do not relocate your weasel. He will just become some other chicken owners problem.
I wish youluck!