Just lost 20 chickens to what appears to be a weasle this a.m.

[woodmort]

Make sure whatever mesh you're using is less than half an inch in diameter as a weasel can easily get through that sized hole. I suggest using one of the victims as bait as the weasel will come back for it--apparently they plan on this when they make a big kill. Fortunately they aren't very suspicious so they trap fairly easily in a live trap. Good luck--I feel your pain lost 15/18 of my layers last winter to one of those varmints that got into the coop through a mouse hole.

 

[chickboss]

Thanks woodmort, that's exactly what we did in terms of bait. Headed down there to check the trap now. And yeah, lesson learned and will be using a fine mesh when designing new housing. I am glad to hear they are easy to trap, I hope the little bugger is in there.

 

[chickboss]

Caught a very young skunk. Hubby thinks that was our critter, I'm not so sure since the fence was turned off. Am kind of concerned that this guy was just attracted to the bait and that the real culprit is still out there. Will a young skunk kill so many at one time? I thought I read that skunks will kill one or two and then come back around days later to try it again.

 

[deerman]

Quote:
Sound like a family of skunks, saw a mother with 5 kits . yes skunks kill just one or two a night. Thats for a single skunk, keep setting the trap

 

[chickboss]

Will do deerman, thanks.

 

[Tracyfeltsmills]

Good luck catching it. I had same issue w racoons and been trying for 2 months now with no luck, Is a task for sure. But be vigalant i am .