Hmmm. I just use the upload file button which is next to post reply. You can really only upload one pic at a time. When I have tried more than one, it takes forever or it doesn't load.
Thank you. I'll give it a try.
Aha! Didn't know you were in England. My hubby hails from Shaftesbury Dorset. Glad you don't have raccoons!
Ah well, maybe my advice will help someone who does.
I'm sure it will, you give good and sound advice, and I thank you greatly for caring enough to share your knowledge. I too am glad we don't have raccoons, from what I have read they can be a nightmare! Gotta admit though they are so cute to look at.Aha! Didn't know you were in England. My hubby hails from Shaftesbury Dorset. Glad you don't have raccoons!
Stoats are similar to minx and ferrets, however predatory wise they are different, stoats/ferrets/weasels can't and won't do the damage a mink can do and does, nor are they anywhere near as ferocious as mink. Mink don't live in the area where I am thank goodness. I don't claim to be an expert however years ago we used to keep ferrets so I am aware of the damage they can do, weasels/ferrets/stoats won't try at the ducks now they are too big and in a couple of months they will no longer be a threat to the chickens either - it is very rare although not unheard of for a stoat to attack a fully grown chicken or duck, they will however try at growers. Mink kill to drink the blood of the animal but won't eat the carcass, ferrets/weasels/stoats kill to eat, ferrets and weasels don't opt for prey bigger than themselves stoats however do but is highly unlikely and practically unheard of for a stoat or any of these to attack a fully grown chicken or duck - the mink however does. The videos does not show the thickness of our wire, I have no idea why it looks so thin on the video but I can assure you it isn't and it is adequate for what we need here in the area I live. Our biggest threat is foxes, and hawks.
Might want to check out the predator forum. Plenty of chickens have gone by the way of a weasel. My friend's chickens who got attacked and killed were full size as well. I know all about their habits and how they take down prey.
Thanks for the advice but I have tried and just cannot get the pictures to upload further than 74% and then get the error message. My daughters partner is a bit of a whizz at computers so I am hoping he might be able to upload them later when he finishes work. I am hoping to get them up as I am interested to hear peoples views. Thank you for all your advice you have been a great help as have all who have commented on my thread. Such great advice and so helpful.
Maybe the size is too big? What did you take the pics with?
Ohh I agree and I never do, I really appreciate your care and concern, people like you spreading the word is how people like myself learn and your knowledge is so valuable as is all the posters on here, the thing is though I believe there is a big difference between the predators you get there and the one's we get here. For a start you get a wider range and variety of weasels as we do in England, ours range between 15 - 22 cm where as in the States weasels can be anything up to 35cm. Over here an average size cat can kill a weasel/stoat/ferret but judging by what I have read about weasels in the states I doubt they could over there. Also, in the past we've had stoats trying to gain access in to our rabbit hutches without success ever, and the wire on there is way thinner and weaker than we have on our run. I know there is no room for slacking and we have to be constantly on our guard, but with all due respect we have built and protected according to the wild life we have in our country and in our area of the country. We don't get mink in this neck of the woods, weasels and ferrets are rare, stoats are in abundance but are small and don't tend to try for anything bigger than a small rat or rabbit if they can get their paws on one. The rabbit hutches here are built for UK predator protection, our birds sleep in a rabbit hutch which we keep locked at night and it is in the run which is also locked and bolted at night. My mother lives about a ten minute walk from me, she has constant visits from foxes which annoys she and my dad because not only do they mess in her garden which stinks (and she hates that her dog rolls in it) they make so much noise they disturb their sleep and turning on an outside light does nothing, they can shoo them away but they only come back again because my parents garden is on foxes path way. I have had no evidence what so ever of ever having foxes in my garden but I live as thought they are here daily and I protect our birds accordingly. You are so right to advise never to underestimate a predator and I take your advice seriously and I thank you greatly for your care and concern, it is so lovely that you care so much.
