Ermine that lives under my coop!

[browning6]

Remember all "rehoming" does is make the little guy somebody else's problem. Do everyone that a favor and kill it when you catch it. If it killed your chicken it will find a way to get another easy meal somewhere at the next coop it comes across. They are not endangered. Just toss the trap in a garbage can full of water and come back in an hour. Easy and humane. Drowning just feels like you are falling asleep. (So says my dads friend that drown as a kid and was revived.) good luck getting the little guy they are smart.

 

[sourland]

Drowning just feels like you are falling asleep.

This is no where near what I experienced when I came close to drowning. I have no problem killing predators but will choose any method other than drowning.

 

[centrarchid]

A potential short-term option is to move pen / coop to another location which is what I did for a weasel a couple weeks ago. Lost only one bird and chickens where not original target, rather weasel was after the abundant voles living around and under pens. I moved pens to location where voles are not as abundant. Following move dogs engaged in a flurry of digging around where weasel haunted although I do not know if they caught it.


If you see it regularly, then set up for targeted removal using a low caliber rifle like a .22. I feel comfortible using such around poultry.