New here and new to raising chickens.

[Picklehead]

Hi everyone, I am new to raising chickens. My youngest son's (whom I homeschool) and I are raising our first flock of chickens, guineas and turkeys. Well we were and still are sorta. Last night we took a devastating loss to our flock. 3 of our 4 guineas, 1 turkey chick, 2 bantam chick, 1 furry foot bantam chick and 1 bigger chick were murdered last night. I'm assuming it was a weasel of some type. It didn't eat them just killed them and drug them under a small hole it dug and the hole got stopped up by the bigger chick. I have 6 dogs who wander our property but last night I prevented them from being around the chicken coop because they had been staying out there all night and setting off the rat traps.

 

[Knobby]

Welcome aboard and thanks for joining our happy family. We were all new once, so please do not hesitate to ask questions and learn from each of our experiences. Sorry to hear about your loss..we do have a predator sub-forum you can visit tolearn more about preventing future attacks.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Hello & Welcome To BYC, it's great to have you here!

So sorry about your losses, best of luck to you getting rid of the weasel. If you ever have any questions, post a thread here.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. This is a great place to explore and hang out. You hit the nail on the head weasel kill for sport.
Hardware cloth is the way to save the rest.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
You'll need to get the dogs back out there to run patrols until you can properly secure your setup with 1/2" hardware cloth. The weasel will be back.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!

So sorry for your losses.

@DobieLover is right. It sounds like you need to fortify your coop and run with 1/2" hardware cloth. That keeps most anything, including rats out.

We've got two dogs and a ton of solar motion lights that help keep our yard free from the wild animals on three sides of us.

 

[GodLovesU]

I am homeschooled as well! Sorry for your losses.

 

[Pigeony]

Welcome to BYC! I'm sorry to hear about your losses, but I do hope you still move forward in your poultry-keeping journey!

 

[Bsmac]

Hello! Welcome to BYC! So sorry for your losses... That is always tough... The weasel will most likely return! As other members have mentioned 1/2 inch hardware cloth is your friend and one of the best defences against predators! Good luck!

 

[N F C]

Hi, sorry to read of your losses. Best wishes.