how do you catch a weasel?

[jtn42248]

Many folks who are not experienced with firearms do not realise how much of a challenge it is to shoot a target.. A moving one is even harder. If you do not have alot of experience shooting .... Invest the money you would have spent on the gun into securing your kennel. A secure pen will be secure even when you are not home. A gun only works when you are there and watching and waiting.

All the best =)

Very True. You will also probably get more for your money if invested in this way as well...at least in the long run.

 

[chicka pucella]

If there is any spot you can get your thumb into a weasel can get in. I lost near 30 chickens in under a week to a family of those things. They usually com out early in the evening. You may also want to put out a few traps as well.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

 

[EeyoreD]

Many folks who are not experienced with firearms do not realise how much of a challenge it is to shoot a target.. A moving one is even harder. If you do not have alot of experience shooting .... Invest the money you would have spent on the gun into securing your kennel. A secure pen will be secure even when you are not home. A gun only works when you are there and watching and waiting.

All the best =)

You're very right on the challenge of shooting - especially a moving one. Even more so one that's latched on to one of your birds. I opted to beat the mink off with an ice scraper (hey it was the closest thing at hand!) rather than try to shoot and possibly hit my drake.

That said, and I've said it before, I go for the multi-pronged approach. Secure coop, traps and vigilance. And if you trap in such a way as to not cause problems for other people (live trap-release is the problem, body/foot traps aren't), you get pretty comfortable with your firearms. I don't at all dispute that the first line of defense is a secure home. But I would also not discourage someone from getting, practicing and getting adept at using a firearm.

You're right, it's a challenge at first. But just because someone isn't going to be perfect from the get-go doesn't mean they shouldn't think about getting a firearm and practicing with it. It's a useful thing and skill to have.

The only thing I will say is, if you're new and you wing something, do your level best to finish it and not leave something wounded and vulnerable. Predators suck but they deserve as clean a dispatch as you can give.

 

[djwynn]

I had something behead 3 of my chickens last night. We are putting up a trail camera tonight to find out what it is. Then we're setting traps! This monster has to go!

 

[northstar107]

We lost two chickens last weekend and the hubbie wasn't pleased (neither was I). He was all enraged shouting "I'm gonna buy a shotgun" but I talked him down to filling the holes under the hen house with cement until we figure something out. I've been researching weasels lately and it looks like the tall grass and pile of logs around the yard might be their home or hiding spot. The weasel(s) came back yesterday and slaughtered four more of our chickens (TO WAR!). This time they tore through the wire fencing to get in. I guess we successfully blocked all the holes under the henhouse. I'm going to buy a few of those small have a heart traps to lay out.

Any suggestions on bait? Do we ask a butcher somewhere for chicken entails (lord knows they love those. . ) or just leave out meat in the traps?

Do weasels attack other animals? Over the past year we've had two outdoor cats take some serious damage and we couldn't figure out from what. No rabies or anything like that but just some serious physical fighting damage. Both cats survived with some pricey medical bills. Could that damage be from weasels or coons?

Thanks for the info

 

[325512]

I have a live trap, but what should I use for bait?

 

[Maeschak]

I have a live trap, but what should I use for bait?

Bloody meat of some sort- the easiest I have found is bloody chicken or beef livers. A tip- put the meat into/onto a small container such as the end of a plastic bottle or something so that it is easy to put in and take out of the trap and clean off. Once the maggots get going you are not going to want to touch that nasty meat and the container makes it easy to get rid of.

I have read, however (from weasel trappers), that the best method to trap a weasel is to leave grain in your trap for several days so that mice go in and out of the trap (dont trap the mice, keep the door propped open). Then, after a few days of mice going in and out set your trap with the bloody meat. Apparently, weasels follow the smell of mice which is usually what gets the weasels into chicken coops in the first place... the mice burrow/find their way into the coop looking for food and then the weasels follow the scent trail of mice and find a tasty chicken buffet.

Good luck!

 

[325512]

Thank you. Your answer was very helpful!

 

[325512]

It has been 4 days without catching the weasel. However, the temperature has dropped into the lower 20's. Do weasels stay in their holes when it gets cold or am I missing something?