Lost almost all my flock

[gdimon]

The other night first time in 2 years I had some thing get into me run and coop and killed 10 hens so I only have two hens and my 3yr old Tom Turkey left. What ever it was dug under the wire and 2x6 that was barred. I think it was a mink or weasel but not sure. All the hen were at least 2 years old and none of them where eaten by the predator just killed. There was a struggle cause I had feather ever where. Has any one had this problem? I would have such a problem with it if they had be eaten but just to be killed and left bothers me

 

[50-45-1]

How big was the hole? This wii give us an idea of the size of the critter.
We had a small knot hole in our old coop and a weasel got in thru that hole and killed one bird, ate a little bit of it, then killed 5 more just for fun. The injury was to the neck and i have heard they suck blood. I dont remember alot of feathers with that one.
What ever it was it might come back tonight.
We used a baby monitor so we new when he arrived, and a live trap with some of the bird he had eaten inside. Caught him the next night.
If i had to guess...mink, neighbor,s dog

 

[gdimon]

The hole was maybe the size of a fist. I moved the last 3 birds into a pen in my basement last night. Till I can kill it or catch it. I'm just shocked cause my Turkey will normal attack at thing that even go near the pen

 

[Flockandfowl46]

With that kind of carnage I eat to say raccoon but could be wrong

 

[Howard E]

What you described is the signature move of a weasel, mink or one of the cousins. They are one of natures most ferocious killers. Normally they confine their activities to rodent control, but will do the same to your birds. They don't kill for fun, but instead are hard wired to attack and kill anything that moves, so once they get started they continue until there is not much left moving. The way they kill is the most efficient way possible.....by severing the spine at the back of the neck. So bite marks there....sometimes so ferocious they rip the whole head off, so it seems they may be licking the blood, and may with some. You may also find small marks under the wings......where they dug in their toes to hang on to the wildly flailing victim until they are able to kill it.

BTW, what often attracts them to your birds is not the birds, but rodents in the form of an abundance of rats and mice that are there for the feed, etc. A good reason to watch for and prevent rodents if you live in weasel country.

Best and only way to keep them out is to limit access. Weasels are designed to go down into rodent tunnels, so they can get through anything the size of a quarter. So that means hardware cloth all around, including the top as they can climb like a squirrel as easy as they can tunnel.

If you want to get that one, you can trap it. Do a search for weasel box traps. Larger version for minks, etc. uses a body grip trap in place of the rat trap.

 

[cmom]

If you have a game camera, put it up. I'm sure whatever it was it will probably be back and then you'll know what you're dealing with.

 

[wyoDreamer]

@cmom It looks like you have your coons trained to follow signs, lol!

 

[MissChick@dee]

The other night first time in 2 years I had some thing get into me run and coop and killed 10 hens so I only have two hens and my 3yr old Tom Turkey left. What ever it was dug under the wire and 2x6 that was barred. I think it was a mink or weasel but not sure. All the hen were at least 2 years old and none of them where eaten by the predator just killed. There was a struggle cause I had feather ever where. Has any one had this problem? I would have such a problem with it if they had be eaten but just to be killed and left bothers me

 

[MissChick@dee]

NOoooooo! So sorry

 

[cmom]

Last nights visitor.