So Sad

[alaskanchicken]

While I was at a meeting, something got in my pen, I think it was a mink or a weasel, and killed five of my babies

How can I minkproof my pen? I want to get more chicks, but don't want them to have the same fate. I was getting so excited to see what they were going to grow up to be. They were just six weeks old. I lost my blue cochin rooster, a couple of brahmas, and a couple I couldn't wait to see what they were. I knew the dangers of hawks and eagles. I can't believe I lost them to a stupid mink

My husband was teasing me for being so sad last night

 

[mszekely]

I'm so sorry about your loss. I worry about my chicks all the time I am away from them. I hope you feel better soon!

 

[DTRM30]

So sorry

I'd be very sad too !

 

[columbiacritter]

Call your local extension agent and ask if you have wesels around. More likely it was a rat.

 

[areyoumymother]

it is devastating to loose a chick .......

I lost one of my 4 week old RIR's to a snake attack. Somehow the snake got ahold of the chicks head thru the wrungs of the dog crate I had them in in the garage but couldn't pull the whole chick thru so ended up leaving the poor suffocated chick in the bottom of the cage for me to find the next morning .... I felt awfull....I cried and cried......

I feel your pain

 

[alaskanchicken]

Pretty sure it wasn't a rat. We dont' have them up here. The way they were killed kinda gives it away

TMI

It just ate their brains.

 

[Dingo]

Unless your coop is right next to a body of water it more than likely was not a mink.
Very few animals will waste a whole carcass, and those that do are animals that either have few predators and can afford to build a good fat reserve (bears), or food is abundant(usually a rodent pest). Mink are also known to store food in a cache, if it was a mink it more than likely would have just left feathers.

 

[alaskanchicken]

We found where it came under my fence, I need to burry the fence a little more. I am pretty sure it was a mink or weasel. My Father in Law used to raise chickens, and that is how he said the mink used to kill his chicks. (he even trapped them) We are by a lot of water, we live in alaska, can see the inlet from our house, and have an abundance of lakes around. I just never even thought about them and the ermine as a preditor, I know stupid me. I know for sure it was not a bear, (that would have to be one small bear)

I do have a couple of bodies missing, and there are feathers where one was drug out.

 

[fshinggrl]

SOrry for your losses.

 

[budda]

Place a 1.5 jump where the critter wiggled through.