advice for mink deterrent in winter

[cluck_this]

I'm in central VT, currently under +18" or so of snow, and a mink that's been prowling finally struck in broad daylight. The girls have mostly stayed in their coop except to come out for some water or treats, but we've now locked them in. The run doesn't have mink proof fencing but more on the history below. The ground is frozen and will be until April, so we can plan for a more intense run but it's months away. I'd love advice on how to keep the girls safe until the ground thaws!

For more context, our backyard includes a brook and pond. Previous owners had mink attacks but it's been +6 years! We have had 4 girls grabbed by foxes in the last 12 months though while free ranging, but we've had a good record of no minks until now!

 

[Echelontheory101]

I'm in central VT, currently under +18" or so of snow, and a mink that's been prowling finally struck in broad daylight. The girls have mostly stayed in their coop except to come out for some water or treats, but we've now locked them in. The run doesn't have mink proof fencing but more on the history below. The ground is frozen and will be until April, so we can plan for a more intense run but it's months away. I'd love advice on how to keep the girls safe until the ground thaws!

For more context, our backyard includes a brook and pond. Previous owners had mink attacks but it's been +6 years! We have had 4 girls grabbed by foxes in the last 12 months though while free ranging, but we've had a good record of no minks until now!

Rat traps or mink/weasel traps, get them outside around your coop and run as soon as you can! Now that they know the chickens are there they are not going away until you remove them, you need to relocate them at least 5 miles if not more unless you are willing to dispatch them. I'm just over the border in New Hampshire what I do to secure my coop from minks and weasels, because they will decimate an entire flock, go around your Coop and anywhere you can fit two fingers in cover it with hardware cloth secured with screws and washers so they can't just pull the edge up and get under it, anything bigger than three fingers I fill with insulation steel wool and then hardware cloth on top they can squeeze in through very small gaps. Keep trapping till you stop catching them.

Also make sure you don't have loose feed and things that attract rodents because the rodents are what attracts the weasels and Minks

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

We have had 4 girls grabbed by foxes in the last 12 months though while free ranging, but we've had a good record of no minks until now!

Do you have run? Or did I miss that somewhere?

 

[fldiver97]

Minks are tough….. they can squeeze in tiny openings. Once they know there’s prey they will keep trying. Set traps. I found mink footprints one winter around my coop, was on crutches after surgery and had to get a pro to set traps…. Fortunately I didn’t lose any chickens but they spent a lot of time in their Fort Knoxish coop

 

[cluck_this]

Do you have run? Or did I miss that somewhere?

Yes we do, it's just not mink-proof...after years of no attacks near the coop/run we had a false sense of security. We're looking into getting a covered run in the spring.

update: we woke up to seeing it literally crawling all over the coop. tried to go scare it away but we're now in talks with a trapper. feels bad to keep the girls in like this but...it is warmer and they are safer!

 

[Folly's place]

Trapping this mink, in trapping season, will be good for the trapper, and help your problem for now, maybe. I think they are solitary hunters, do find out before you think your birds are safe!
It's why we have a (mostly) safe coop and small roofed run, big enough for our flock to be in, for months if necessary, because of deep snow, predation, or the avian influenza outbreak.
Everyone lives chicken, and most of us have learned the very hard way just how vulnerable our birds are.
Mary

 

[neo71665]

Most everywhere has laws protecting livestock and allowing the trapping of nuisance animals.

Some places you might not even need a permit to protect your own animals. Here it's free permit if you have a hunting license you just have to apply for the nuisance animal permit. Other places you might have to call in an approved trapper. You gonna have to call your local game and fish and find out what you need to do for your area.

 

[debid]

TN posts everything online -- I can get my landowner hunting license exemption form, check on hunting season dates and limits, etc. Very easy these days to know what is allowed and what isn't.

 

[Folly's place]

I was referring to 'trapping season' as a good time for a nice pelt, nothing to do with managing critters who attack livestock.
Weasels of all sorts, including mink, are beautiful, but not when one kills entire flocks of poultry!
Fortunately we've never had that happen here!
Mary