Mink attack!!

[GrannySue]

In broad daylight!

A mink attacked John in the middle of the pen a few minutes ago, grabbed him and tried to take him under the hen house. Luckily I was on the porch and saw it happening. Ran down the steps and onto the muddy yard (bye bye slippers) and yelled at it. By that time the mink was under the shed, hauling John along with him, by the wing. I (foolishly, I guess) hauled John away from it.
No perceivable damage to John, I looked him over really carefully feather by feather. I've let him join the rest of his flock and he's running around normally.


So right now Poppy, my Jack Russell/Daschund is tearing around the yard following the mink's scent. She picked up on it right away.
Now I'm nervous about going out for the afternoon because I'm afraid the mink will return.
There's no way I can mink proof the vast estate. It's a fine balance between security and happy birds and I'm not locking them up.

 

[gkeesling]

He will most likely be back. Have you thought about setting some type of trap to try to catch him if he comes back around your coop?

 

[GrannySue]

I can't get a trap until Monday.
Yes, I'm afraid he'll be back ...

 

[Chicky Tocks]

I'm seeing a pretty mink pouch in your future!

 

[Soaring Chicks]

I do not know if it will work on minks, but you can feed a groundhog bubblegum and it will kill them every time.
You might want to google on was to keep them away or get rid of them.
I'm glad you saw what was going on and that he is fine. Good luck with your mink problem.

 

[bigdawg]

it will be back. lock them up until you get a trap and catch it. otherwsie bye bye ducks.

 

[Amiga]

I would restrict the ducks if at all possible, short term, till you get a better handle on the situation. Is there a temporary "safe house" they could have?

Shudder. Sorry to hear about this. Good quick action rescuing John.

 

[GrannySue]

No safe house for them except the duck and chicken houses which are both about 8X8 and only used at night. Those are really, really safe with no holes of any sort.
(Far too small to keep them in, plus very little light.)