Well yesterday was horrible. I awoke and let my 4 big dogs out, and hearing my voice one of my chicken who had gotten out of the coop flew into the yard to come see her mommy and my dogs attacked. LUCKILY I fought off my beloved dogs, ranging 40lbs-90lbs and somehow got her inside the house, she lost some feathers but is ok. I did not understand how she got out but I took her out to the coop and then I found the scene. First I saw a half dead duck right in the doorway all bloody around her neck. then I scanned around and there were bodies all around. I had to pause to figure out what it was. Normally we open up a side door to let chickens out in the AM but we had just got 14 inches of snow so the coop was left closed up tight. Then I saw him.... a mink(yes a mink, not weasel. all dark brown, no white underbelly like a weasel) and he was still in there running around. I just yelled at him and went running for him, he ran out. As I was in there taking it all in, and doing body count the darn thing came back in even when I was talking to my chickens. Brash little SOB. I ran my half dead duck inside(he had killed the other duck) and grabbed cell phone and ran back outside to guard the flock. Fiance came home from work. Not sure at first what to do so he went back to work and I guarded the survivors from 9am to 5pm. We tried a trap with tuna in it. The darn thing either ignored it or I saw it run in one side and out the other. Anyway when my fiance got home he had a borrowed shotgun and he sat out in the coop with the gun pointed at the doorway from 5:30-11:10 and I hear a BANG and I hear over the walkie talkie DEAD F**ing WEASEL!!!! I ran out and yep.. he was dead.. and had no head any longer. Now normally I would not be so happy but that little thing killed 8 of my chickens and my only 2 ducks(1 is technically still alive but probably won't make it) Upon looking on internet we found it was indeed a mink not weasel. but I did my best to fix any areas around door where I thought he got in. Mink/weasels are normally solitary so we were hoping no others would come around. The survivors all made it through the night. Since he came right in while we were in there talking I take it a radio would do no good? I truly understand how protective people get of their children/animals. I was ready to bludgon that thing or do whatever it took. He came in a few times while I was in there guarding, I was soo furious. So it was a long day and we are sooo glad it is over. Any advice for the future? coop is solid wood, the only place is the door that had a 1/4 inch gap on the one side. that is fixed now. Any advice is welcome.
Heather & Troy
Heather & Troy
