Need Help! Something Killed My Babies!!!!!!

[KalikoFarms]

THANKS to all of you. We are going to set a trap tomorrow night and see if we cant find the culprit. Ferrets make so much sense. From what I am told there were at least 3 that were let go out in behind our home. I just didnt think they could survive in the wild. Goes to show you just how much I know! You all are so much appreciated. And Okie I have had 6 adults come up missing but we thought it was coyotes or something. I am learning so much. Now all of our babies, 6 tukey poults, 4 peachicks and now 4 chicks are all in my house. I know it sound so bad but I just can let them get taken from me. I have gotten them to come to me and I love them all. My big chickens wont even go into their coop anymore. This started a few days ago. They now roost on my air conditioners and the dogs fence (6ft tall), I have 14 teacup/toy poodles that stay in the house too. At least the 3 adult peafowl stay outside in their chainlink fence. I know nothing can get in there. LOL ....... Its all making sense now. Thank you all and that just dosent seem to be enough to say.

 

[debid]

You are in the mink range -- most of the US is. As I understand it, a 1" hole is big enough for them (skunks need 4"). I'd suggest replacing the chicken wire with 1/2" hardware cloth and closing the coop tight at night (they're nocturnal hunters) because it's easier to keep a mink out than to try to catch them all. OH, and BTW, their preferred habitat is near water so your ponds will attract them.

 

[KalikoFarms]

I would have never thought of a mink. There is a small swampy like area on the side of the ponds that house beavers. Nothing gets rid of them! But I also read about mink in Alabama and it said that they den where beavers are. So this is the best possibliity yet. All of the babies necks seemed to be snapped and acouple of them were tore up. Thank you. We are going to call and find out what to do at the Game and Wildlife people. This is so madning.
Thanks Again
Rita

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

We have mink and weasles where I live also. But I wanted to add, I used to have a pet ferret. He LOVED to be out in the snow. I used to take him out to play in it on a leash and harness. And they will kill birds (I also had a parakeet- he got right into the cage and ate her

). I hope you catch it. We had a problem with a mink a couple months ago. Never could catch it in a trap. My dog finally ended up catching it though...

 

[snyd08]

cooooooooooooooooooooooooooonssssss!

 

[debid]

Quote:
I don't think a raccoon can squeeze through chicken wire, though.

 

[TinyChickenLady]

My neightbors have had weasel problems. Some of their chickens and rabbits were found dead. Weasels are one of the few animals that will drain or "ick" their victims without taking them away. If it's a skunk that you catch, throw a blanket over the cage before handling it. They normally won't spray if their blinded. Then gently load it on the back of a vehicle and drown the sucker. Don't try to be humane and let it go. It WILL spray you.
If it's a weasel or mink that you catch, talk to your local animal control but I think you can just let them go (FAR AWAY from your home).

 

[Mychickshatched!]

Like tinychickenlady said, if you don't have other means of dispatching it, just drown the thing. If it's a skunk, tie some bailing twine or some rope to the trap, preferably before you set it so you don't get sprayed, and drag it into some body of water. Sorry about your babies. This has happened to me before, too, but with raccoons. The darn things dug under the coop. Good luck!