stoat attack

[sóley]

10 January there was a stoat that came in my chicken coop at night time and killed 6 girls and wounded my rooster, I thought stoats wouldn't be able to come into the coop so I checked everywhere and found a hole in the coop that I had never seen before so I moved the chickens to my other coops that I builded myself so I know he won't be able to come in there and he hasn't, but now I'm wondering I have my chickens free range but I have been to afraid to let them out, worrying the stoat might come back and attack them when there outside.
so is my worrying right or? do they come in daylight to attack

maybe best to mention that my coops are very close to the house.

I'm just asking about this because my chickens are always trying to go outside but I won't let them because I'm to scared that I might lose more then.

 

[The Phantom]

I’m sorry for your loss.

 

[GoProChickens]

I'm so sorry for your loses.

 

[Grits&Eggs]

catch and release trap? or a trap sounds like a good option!
They are scary little weasels, not sure your chickens will be safe until it is gone.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

a stoat is a type of weasel right? i would recommend a weasel box (a rat trap in a box) and try to trap the little thing.

 

[sourland]

Stoats will hunt and kill whenever they are hungry. Trap and euthanize. It will return. Their range can be quite large so it may take a while to find it's way back.

 

[sóley]

thank, I don't have any traps for stoats but I own a rat trap that is like if he steps on it he gets glued to it, at least that's what happens to rats, will that work on stoat?

other wise if that dosent work I just ask around my neighbors if the have these cages that when he walks in side it it closes and he can't get out or I go see if I find anything else for sale.

but shouldnt I but some food in the trap? and if so what should I but in the trap?

Stoats will hunt and kill whenever they are hungry. Trap and euthanize. It will return. Their range can be quite large so it may take a while to find it's way back.

catch and release trap? or a trap sounds like a good option!
They are scary little weasels, not sure your chickens will be safe until it is gone.

 

[sourland]

If you set the live trap or 'walk in' type box trap along the sides of the pen/coop mink or weasels will frequently enter while trying to figure out how to get to the birds. Stoats are of the same family so I would guess will operate in the same fashion. Very fresh meat/fish can be used as a bait, but it must be fresh.

 

[sóley]

my bad, this was a mink not a stoat, this is called minkur I Iceland and I didn't know what minkur was called in English so I just a translateing app and that said it was called stoat, but my friend was telling me it is called mink in English and stoat is another think but looks very similar. she knows this because we only have minks her in Iceland and foxes, that's the only think we need to worry about with our chickens, I have'nt catched the think yet but I was out with my dog just a minute ago and she saw the mink running and my dog just stared running after it, I was so hoping she would catch it and kill it but it got away. this is the first time I have seen my dog try to hunt something and I got so proud of her when I saw her trying to catch it because I have always hoped she would protect the chickens, maybe she catch it next time.

my uncle is building me a mink trap now, he used to build a lot of them when he was younger and lived in a farm and he offered to build me one to catch the mink, these traps are this way, the mink can get in but not out, so if a cat would accidentally get in he wouldn't die, we would just let the cat out. I hope the trap be ready soon so I can try to catch him

 

[itsasmallfarm]

my bad, this was a mink not a stoat, this is called minkur I Iceland and I didn't know what minkur was called in English so I just a translateing app and that said it was called stoat, but my friend was telling me it is called mink in English and stoat is another think but looks very similar. she knows this because we only have minks her in Iceland and foxes, that's the only think we need to worry about with our chickens, I have'nt catched the think yet but I was out with my dog just a minute ago and she saw the mink running and my dog just stared running after it, I was so hoping she would catch it and kill it but it got away. this is the first time I have seen my dog try to hunt something and I got so proud of her when I saw her trying to catch it because I have always hoped she would protect the chickens, maybe she catch it next time.

my uncle is building me a mink trap now, he used to build a lot of them when he was younger and lived in a farm and he offered to build me one to catch the mink, these traps are this way, the mink can get in but not out, so if a cat would accidentally get in he wouldn't die, we would just let the cat out. I hope the trap be ready soon so I can try to catch him

a mink. i think there worse then weasels.

a 120 coni bear works wonders on them and they have really nice fur. (only caught one in my time trapping of the past 3 years, but they have really soft and nice fur so i skinned and tanned mine)

but getting off topic, i recommend using fresh fish for bait and maybe some mink lure if you can find it. (most trapping stores sell it)