How to rid your coop of rats--and a few chickens

[woodmort]

I attached a trap camera to the ceiling of my coop and caught this in progress. Fortunately I covered holes and he hasn't been back. On the the other hand I haven't seen a rat in about 3 months

 

[Meg-in-MT]

I'm trying to figure out what's going on here...it's a rat and a what? Mink? Or am I not seeing it clearly haha.

 

[dalasgalas]

Looks like a naked mole rat. Know that isn't the case. Can't tell.

 

[sylviethecochin]

I'm trying to figure out what's going on here...it's a rat and a what? Mink? Or am I not seeing it clearly haha.

It's a weasel. And it's eating the rats, which is why he hasn't seen any.

 

[sylviethecochin]

View attachment 1694053

I attached a trap camera to the ceiling of my coop and caught this in progress. Fortunately I covered holes and he hasn't been back. On the the other hand I haven't seen a rat in about 3 months

I hear that those'll rid you of more than just a few chickens.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Pretty cool to see it in action going after what I can only assume is a harder prey item to catch than a sleeping chicken.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

It's a weasel. And it's eating the rats, which is why he hasn't seen any.

Ah, I see. Thank you @sylviethecochin.

 

[FluffTheDuck]

I'm trying to figure out what's going on here...it's a rat and a what? Mink? Or am I not seeing it clearly haha.

Me either

 

[FluffTheDuck]

It's a weasel. And it's eating the rats, which is why he hasn't seen any.

Oh.

 

[woodmort]

I'm trying to figure out what's going on here...it's a rat and a what? Mink? Or am I not seeing it clearly haha.

The white animal is a winter weasel, aka ermine, that is in the process of consuming a rat. I lost a couple of chickens to it as well but the worst killer was a mink that went though a dozen birds in one night. I've eliminated the weasel but the mink is still out there someplace, hopefully by lining the inside of the coop walls with hardware cloth will keep it out until I can trap it.

Here is a picture of him trying to figure out how to get through the door and ignoring the trap to its left. You might need to enlarge it to see him.