Mink Proofing - Can It Be Done?

[Nwygle93]

Sorry to come a crossed as depressed. I loved my girls, and they were the most personable and friendly chickens I have ever had. Two were Buff Brahmas I bought from northern Ohio (Myers Hatchery, wonderful place), and one was a mutt that somebody left in a box on my doorstep one night. Some people think I'm silly for growing so attached to them and treating them like pets, but I did.
I'm loving the ideas on mink proofing! Now that we are out in the sticks, I (should have) considered making a more sturdy home for them. Keep the ideas coming! I wish I would have found this site sooner. I love chicken people

 

[Latestarter]

Please do NOT feel foolish about loving your birds... or ANY animal for that matter! Any here who read your thread will understand completely and commiserate with you! We have all lost loved animals and completely understand what you're feeling. I think many folks who suffer are here for support as their "real life" friends may NOT understand... justsayin...

Be aware that trapping or killing the mink could get you in serious trouble with the law. Just pointing that out. They have a "right to life" as well, and we have displaced most wildlife in this country. Some states do allow destruction of predators doing damage to "livestock" but you need to check your laws and if chickens are included where you are, as livestock.

 

[Angela Thomson]

I feel your pain. It's okay, we are all here for you! I could not imagine loosing any of my girls! I lost a whole flock years ago and still not sure what got them. I wasn't keeping those as pets so wasn't too sad. NOW I would cry if I lost any!

 

[Latestarter]

Hey Margie! Saw your post and meant to say HI but go involved answering the OP. How's things up above cloud level? Hope your winter hasn't been too tough. I've had CO cold down here in TX when I thought I'd left it behind!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I didn't cast a vote as it's dual edged. Yes a cock bird will protect his flock but unfortunately for him that usually means he forfeits his life to do so. So yes the hens will generally be saved in a attack but you're cock will have died doing his job. Not against all predators but in the case of a mink absolutely. Keeping your coop locked up at night goes a long way in protection as the birds don't have night vision and are nothing more than lobster in seafood restaurant display tank. During the day they have a chance to get away or defend themselves. The cock is first line of defense. Either is fight fends off the predator or his flesh sacrifice appeases it.

I've a nice mink pelt from an attack last spring. Ran out to see what the racket was all about to scare off the mink that was on my breeding cocks back tearing feathers out of its neck to clear area for a death bite. The bird had given up at this point and was lying on ground awaiting his fate. The chased of mink didn't go far so ran inside to find pellet gun imediately but took near ten minutes finding the tin of pellets. One pullet had gone into coop for safety earlier and found her in run in death twitches and mink over her on my return with loaded gun. Took aim and dispatched the critter. She would have been protected longer if she'd gone with other hens and cock. He would have held it off long enough for no losses. Alone she was vulnerable. Was a female mink gathering nutrition for her young in spring. She was desperate for food and I was desperate to save the flock from inevitable returns.

 

[Nwygle93]

Firs, I'm so sorry to hear that you lost all of them in one night. When a mink or any of the others of the weasel family gain access, they will sometimes kill everything, even though they won't eat everything they kill. a weasel (or young mink) can squeeze through a quarter sized hole, so you must take care. if their head will fit through, so will the rest of their body. Pardon me...

Greetings and welcome to BYC! So glad you joined us, even if the reason for doing so is terrible. There's a wealth of info, knowledge and experience shared in the multitude of threads. Browse around and see what interesting stuff you can find. By all means post away when the desire strikes you, especially if you have questions (provide as much detail/info as possible and pictures truly help)... With all the great folks here, generally someone will respond in no time at all. Please make yourself at home!

You CAN make a predator proof coop and run for your (future) birds. The thing is, it isn't "cheep" and will take forethought and effort. I know you want to give your birds freedom and you CAN make a big enough run that they can get time out in the open... Their open will just be enclosed. There's a coop section with thousands of pictures and ideas and as I said before, many threads dealing specifically with predators.

A coop built on a concrete slab would prevent anything accessing your birds when they are inside. For the run area, you'll need to use 1/2" hardware cloth (wire - don't use 1/4" as it's "thinner" gauge wire and easier to break through). It should reach up the sides at least 2' You'll also need to put a skirt down around the outside to prevent diggers from going under the walls.

Oh, if you haven't done so already, PLEASE put at least your general location in your profile. It could be very important if/when you ask for or offer help or advice. You know, climate issues and such. Old folks like me will never remember from this thread. To add it, mouse hover over Account top right and a drop down will appear. Click on Personal Details and scan down. You'll see the spot for Location. Then go to the bottom and save changes. Thanks! Hope you enjoy the site!

Thank you for the warm welcome I wish I would have found this site a long time ago. I did go ahead and save my location. I also will post a pic of my sweet girls that I lost...they were beautiful

 

[leighks]

Half inch hardware cloth for sure. You have to be able to lock them up securely overnight and I would also have a secure run for the day as well. Let them out to free range only when you are there. You do not say where you are, but if there is any chance of bears, electric fencing is the only real cure for them.

This is how I have ours set up too, and it has worked out well. They are in a run in the day with the hardware cloth apron buried a foot underground. They only freerange when I’m out there with them- we have mink, coyotes, foxes, I swear I even saw a Fisher last winter-
And they are supposedly pretty vicious!

I’m sorry for your losses. I love my chickens too!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

My husband made our coop, but it looks very similar to this one. The only major difference is that we bought a more heavy duty mesh with fingernail-sized spaces. It must have gotten banged up during our move. So, I think what happened is that it pried a very small loose piece of wood on the back wall on the ground, and moved through that.
We do have a run that they could be in during the day, I would much rather them be able to get the feeling of grass and sun
They say mink are hard to trap, and even harder to keep out because, if their head can go through something, so can they
...

A mink can squeeze through any opening as large as one inch. 1/2 inch hardware cloth has to cover any opening. I've lost a sickeningly incredible number of birds to mink, easily $2,500 worth.
They usually attack at night but I've had 3 attacks during the day.
One day I heard all the chickens making a ruckus and running around with what I first thought was a squirrel but realizing squirrels don't chase chickens I ran outside. The mink had finally caught one of the cockerels and had it down on the ground holding it by the neck. Two other cockerels were attacking the mink but it ignored them. It ignored me too as I ran up. I stomped on the mink and it started biting my boot. The ground was soft from recent rains but I wasn't going to let it go so I kept stomping till it was dead. While this was going on, the cockerel I thought was dead got up and ran into the woods.
It got so bad I put a baby monitor in one of the coops that still had live birds in it. That night I was awakened by a lot of thrashing about. I ran out and caught one in the act of killing birds. I tried to stomp on it as it ran by but it was too fast. I managed to save half of the birds in that building.
They are very difficult to trap, mostly because they only want live bait.
They like to explore tight spaces so will go into pipes looking for food. You can use a size #110 conibear body trap.
http://www.flemingoutdoors.com/leg-and-body-traps.html
Put one at each end of a length of pipe that has had some fish oil or similar in it.
You can bury a length of 1 1/2" or 2" PVC pipe vertically with a mouse in it. The mink will go in for the mouse and won't be able to turn around to get back out.
They are vicious but not smart.
You can also make a box trap with the body trap at the entrance hole with a mouse in a small cage inside the box.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

pretty much you have to make it weasel proof, never thought we had mink where i live (too far from water) but this year saw one on camera and then made a mink box and with in 24 hours had a dead mink. (am a licensed trapper, so i used a 120 conibear)

 

[ChickenCanoe]

pretty much you have to make it weasel proof, never thought we had mink where i live (too far from water) but this year saw one on camera and then made a mink box and with in 24 hours had a dead mink. (am a licensed trapper, so i used a 120 conibear)

Do you thin the #110 is too small?

140 years of family chicken keeping here and never a mink until Walmart built a store on a creek 1/4 mile from my house as the crow flies and cut down 80 acres of forest along the creek. The next week, the slaughter started.