DEATH IS ALL AROUND ME-NO LONGER CAN SWAP OR TRADE UPDATE!!

[willow]

I talked to some guys in town last night and they said we have fischers also but that it sounded like I had a weasel problem. So tonight I'm setting my traps!!!

Clinger is doing great!!

The side of his face and wattle bruised really bad but he is now drinking and eating on his own. After what he has been through I think he deserves to be staying in my office for a while.

 

[gamebirdsonly]

I hope you catch the dirty buggers.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

What are you doing to reinforce your coop?

 

[chicknmania]

I don't have any experience with Fishers, but we consulted a trapper about our weasel problem. He said they are extremely difficult to catch; they're smart; that proved to be true. One night we stayed outside the barn all night to try to figure out what was going on; we had SO many predators last spring. I surprised the weasel running around in the barn, when I walked in at 4:15AM to check on everyone. Weirdly enough, the weasel never bothered our chickens again(knock on wood) though we never caught him/them. We barricaded our barn every way we could think of, and this seemed to work pretty well so far.

 

[smith2]

It really sounds like dogs to me. I have trouble with dogs here in my part of the country. They hunt just for sport, do not eat the prey, can pile them up, and can kill large numbers very fast. We have a neighbor who keeps Rottweilers and they killed 3 cats in less than 5 minutes with the cats trying to run up the nearest trees. You may be dealing with a dog problem. We do not have fishers in this part of the country, but they also can do massive damage in short periods of time. So sorry! I would have been crying also. Then, my anger would astound even me (I am generally a very patient person). Hope you get some answers soon. Start over. You may find some hidden help from above in starting over.

 

[smith2]

Another thought. Weasel packs can be very distructive. A mother and her little weasel varmin could do this type of damage. The wire you had 1x2 is a little big. I had skunks getting in my pens with 1x2 wire. If you are sure dogs could not get in than weasels would be my next guess, also. Reinforce those pens with smaller wire. I have been much better with the 1x1 wire. I think fishers only kill 1-2 birds at a time and eat the prey?

 

[DDRanch]

oh, I am so so sorry for this awful loss. What a terrible thing to come home to. We on this site understand how you feel about your chickens, and my heart goes out to you.
Anne

 

[chicknmania]

Wait, how could it be a fisher cat if there was no damage to the fence or signs of forced entry? A fisher cat couldn't get through the holes in the wire!

 

[DDRanch]

Hey, can you give us a picture of Clinger so we can send him speedy recovery wishes?
Anne

 

[Linda in San Diego]

So sorry about your loss. Sounds like you are still working to solve this problem for the future. Too scary! Taking action is the best course.

How is your S Roo? He is a beauty!