Weasel Solutions, Please?! (Warning Graphic Images)

[Eggscaping]

Was the protection chicken wire? Because weasels can go through openings in chicken wire. That's why a lot of people on here use hardware cloth that has really tiny openings. Very expensive, but that's what we plan to use.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Was the protection chicken wire? Because weasels can go through openings in chicken wire. That's why a lot of people on here use hardware cloth that has really tiny openings. Very expensive, but that's what we plan to use.

Yes, regular chicken wire. We don't have a whole lot of money, so what we normally get is normally around $75 - $80 maximum.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Was the protection chicken wire? Because weasels can go through openings in chicken wire. That's why a lot of people on here use hardware cloth that has really tiny openings. Very expensive, but that's what we plan to use.

It depends on the opening size of the chicken wire it comes in different sizes.

 

[MysteryChicken]

It depends on the opening size of the chicken wire it comes in different sizes.

The openings in the wire are about an inch, is that big enough for a weasel too squeeze through?

 

[Compost King]

I had to hardware cloth all my coop floors when Weasels were getting through my half in gaps in the wooden floors that I liked putting in for better air flow under the bedding material. They chewed on the slots just a little bit and could get in. I installed quarter in hardware cloth.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I had to hardware cloth all my coop floors when Weasels were getting through my half in gaps in the wooden floors that I liked putting in for better air flow under the bedding material. They chewed on the slots just a little bit and could get in. I installed quarter in hardware cloth.

Okay. We'll have to see what we can do. I'll check out the video soon.

 

[Eggscaping]

The openings in the wire are about an inch, is that big enough for a weasel too squeeze through?

Yes.

 

[roosterhavoc]

I’ve caught long tailed weasel and I had him in my hand and he could not fit through 3/4 in opening chicken wire. I tried stuffing his head through there. Not only would his head not fit but his shoulders weren’t going to get through either.
Now if your chicken wire is bent all out of shape or has gaps etc that’s a different story.
I worry a lot of people just repeat a what they hear or see on the internet.
Either way I don’t think it’s a weasel anyway.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I’ve caught long tailed weasel and I had him in my hand and he could not fit through 3/4 in opening chicken wire. I tried stuffing his head through there. Not only would his head not fit but his shoulders weren’t going to get through either.
Now if your chicken wire is bent all out of shape or has gaps etc that’s a different story.
I worry a lot of people just repeat a what they hear or see on the internet.
Either way I don’t think it’s a weasel anyway.

What do you think it was? I found no tracks, or anything like that. A opposum will attack, and eat from the back, or belly of a chicken. A raccoon will tear a chicken appart. I had cat troubles in the spring, got in, and ate my mom's OEGB hen. The cat left the wings of the chicken, and part of it's legs. The cat also left it's tracks.
The smallest weasel we have here in Michigan is the short tailed weasel.

Image from Google. It's a short tailed weasel.

 

[50-45-1]

So first off make sure you secure the rext of your chickens in the coop for tonight. It sounds like the coop door is open and whatever kills them while they are roosting and drags them out in the run. What ever it is can not carry the bird out the way it got in.
Is your run covered? The missing heads thing sounds like owl to me.
WhaTever it is will be back.
I have caught 2 weasels in my chicken life. Both of them came back the following night after the night of carnage. I put a piece of the dead bird or baby chick wired to the pan of a small havea heart trap and when he could NOT get access to the remaining birds he went in the trap for the bait. No not relocate!
Also tools you might find helpfull are baby monitors in the coop and trail camera. Both of these are necessary and extreemy helpfull if you are a chicken keeper. Good luck tonight! i am sorry for your loss of birds, your remaining are beautiful.