Just had a stoat attack!

[Johnn]

Have you heard from the wildlife people yet? Any sign of the trap?

Well they just want me to ring when it is there and i have to leave and they will come with a gun, even if the hen is getting attacked i have to leave but i dont know if i can! , im going to suggest a trap because i dont have time to sit and babysit them every day :/

 

[sumi]

I think a trap would be better. By the time they came with a gun that thing will be long gone. And I wouldn't stand and watch it kill one of my chickens either. Don't know what they're thinking off.

Hope you have a nice, event free Xmas tomorrow!

 

[centrarchid]

Johnn,

You can pen your birds up together without real harm. Most of the squables are low intensity pecking order disputes or simply enforcement.

Problem that may be encountered with confining birds is it may not be stoat proof. That may take some additional work.


You say your birds are "truelly" free-range. That emplies to me that birds get all their nutrition through foraging. If that is correct then confinement will need to be short-term, otherwise simply make certain the birds are getting a good quality feed while confined.

Have you or are going to employ dog?


Your wildlife management folks must be close for them to say leave as they do their bit. I would stay when they visit and question seriously logic to do otherwise.

 

[Johnn]

I think a trap would be better. By the time they came with a gun that thing will be long gone. And I wouldn't stand and watch it kill one of my chickens either. Don't know what they're thinking off.

Hope you have a nice, event free Xmas tomorrow!

me too!! i will probablies be with them for most of tomorrow, they will be alone for 2 hours and have a good christmas too! and i know i couldnt watch it, the only was i would allow it if it was one of my radgie hens who would like fly around, aslong as it didnt look tired or injured i would just hide, but if it got it on the floor or anything or she was getting tired i would step in!, i should let it attack one then it will be that focused on the hen i could smack it with a shovel!!

 

[Johnn]

Johnn,

You can pen your birds up together without real harm. Most of the squables are low intensity pecking order disputes or simply enforcement.

Problem that may be encountered with confining birds is it may not be stoat proof. That may take some additional work.


You say your birds are "truelly" free-range. That emplies to me that birds get all their nutrition through foraging. If that is correct then confinement will need to be short-term, otherwise simply make certain the birds are getting a good quality feed while confined.

Have you or are going to employ dog?


Your wildlife management folks must be close for them to say leave as they do their bit. I would stay when they visit and question seriously logic to do otherwise.

They are about 5-10 mins away from my hens, and they get fed layers pellets and mixed corn in a 50:50 ratio and what to you mean by "employ dog"? and really they are the worst hens even when out in the field they manage to make each others combs bleed!!

 

[centrarchid]

Johnn,

Birds you have should not be of any breeding that would cause excessive aggression. More aggression could be a result of poor nutrition but your birds look to be sound.

By "employ dog" I mean use it on stoat. If you are within window stoat visits I would have dog at ready.

When bird is attacked,can you hear chickens making a lot of noise. I use that as signal to loose dog. My dogs trained to go to chickens so alarmed but you can simply take dog to birds.

 

[Johnn]

Johnn,

Birds you have should not be of any breeding that would cause excessive aggression. More aggression could be a result of poor nutrition but your birds look to be sound.

By "employ dog" I mean use it on stoat. If you are within window stoat visits I would have dog at ready.

When bird is attacked,can you hear chickens making a lot of noise. I use that as signal to loose dog. My dogs trained to go to chickens so alarmed but you can simply take dog to birds.

No they are right out in the field so i can't hear them, and i think the main reason for there agression towards each other is because they dont have a set pecking order, it is really muddled up, one is always rising up, and some fall down, they just really dont like each other, they go off in different groups, have to take turn to stand next to the cockerel because they fight over who stands next to him, they are just really silly, only a few get on with each other, and there is no top hen to keep every one in place :/

 

[Johnn]

I only have 11 hens and to keep them happy at feeding time, i have to put food in a 1.5 metre long trough, a metre long trough, another meter long trough, a cat bowl, this plastic tub, 2 chocolate celebration plastic tubs, a glass bowl, a feeder hanging from the tree, and 3 piles on the floor and some of them still beat a hen up!!

 

[Johnn]

Luckily no visit or any sign of the stoat today

 

[sumi]

Probably to busy with Xmas and the family. Glad he's giving you a break today!