I am pretty sure it was a weasel...

[sparkles2307]

Yesterday was just a crappy day for me.
I went out in the morning before work to let the big ducks out for the day and found my new Call drake had flown out of the pen and was walking the fence trying to get back in to his girls. I let him back in, let the other ducks out, and carried on with my day. DH got home before me, and when I got home he pointed to my duck pen. One of the female Calls was out now, trying to get back in, and the drake was gone. I looked ALL over the yard, the kids looked in places that I wouldnt even think to look, and tho they did find where one of my hens is hiding her eggs there was no sign of my new Call drake, no feathers, no blood, not a trace. This led me to hope that he was in the swamp with my big ducks and I awited expectantly for them to come in for the night. They sure did, but no Call. I thought, MAYBE, he is hiding out cause our place has only been home for about 2 weeks, and he must want to get back to his girls, so I hoped this morning he'd be back...
At 6:10 I went out this morning to let the big ducks out, and not only was the Call still gone, but there were feathers EVERYWHERE. DH came out of the cow barn and told me that my favorite drake (my saxony cross) was dead and the throat had been ripped out but nothing else eaten. He had taken him away before I could see him so I wouldnt get too upset.
I found a den last night, about 300 yards behind the barns in our drainage ditch. Something has burrowed into the side of the ditch under the tree roots. There are no tracks in the dirt but its very fresh. Would this be a weasel den? I am so mad I could spit nails, I could spit freakin bullets at the nasty bugger that killed my favorite duck! We have a mini dachshund who has the run of the farm so I cant set out traps (she cant come in because I am deathly allegic to her) so I dont know what to do about this issue, I lost 3 ducks in the same manner last spring and I want to nip this in the bud NOW.
Short of staking out my yard all night with my rifle what can I do?!? I have hens getting ready to set, I cant have a weasel!

 

[sparkles2307]

O I forgot to add that besides our own sweet barn kitty there is a tom cat who ranges between our house and 2 of the nieghbors. He's tame, we can pet him and talk to him, but the dog who usually ignores him is being really agressive to him the last few days....could he have killed my huge drake and made off with my Call drake?

 

[AHappychick]

no the cat would not do that, must be a weasel or some other critter. I would tie up the dok or fence it in for a few days and set traps leg traps and have a heart traps. This will continue all summer if you dont catch and dispose of it. And if a weasal they are hard to get as is.

Does hubby have any friends who would not mind an overnight stake out? maybe supply a few beers and snacks?

so sorry!

 

[sparkles2307]

Actually my brothe rin law would LOVE doing an overnight stakeout, he would be great for the job, but he just broke his back last Friday...

I might look at some traps... and Poor Emma can survive being tied up for a day or so. What about the cats and chickens? I free range the birds during the day...

 

[AHappychick]

if it can snag a duck it certainly can grab a chick. Sorry about BIL back, that stinks!

yes call around I know the humane society around me lends out traps for a $50 deposit which they return when you give back the trap. Be careful.

 

[sparkles2307]

We live in such a remote area with habitats for enough varmints that I think we will just buy traps. TSC has live traps for 30 bucks. I also have an itchy trigger finger that might like to see some action...

 

[AHappychick]

yes its a good idea to have some. I know TSC has a combo pack with a coon size and a smaller size. It also would probably feel good to exact some revenge of the lead kind

 

[sparkles2307]

I googled "trapping weasels" and came up with some really informative websites that give detailed directions for building simple weasle box traps. They just use the little leg hold trap placed in a box with a 2" opening (this keeps my chickens and dog away from the leg hold trap!) and some bait in a little wooden box. We're going to fleet farm to get some of the gopher/weasel traps and I know what DH is doing this weekend.... lets call it shop class

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

Or a mink. Something in that family. An oh so hard to catch and be rid of.

A mink pelt will bring $5 in our area, so dispatch with a carefully placed shot.

Some of the Hav-A-Harts have large enough openings that a weasel/mink can escape.

A cooked chicken leg was excellent bait.

Good Luck!

 

[19hhbelgian]

We had mink at our last place, and never had trouble. Our ducks would actually gang up on them and chase them away. Although, if they are being attacked in the pen, they might react differently. I'd definitely get some traps and seriously thing about a stakeout. Good Luck! I hope you get the bugger...