Weasel????

[buffboy]

Last night something got in the coop and killed 7 of my hens. But only found 6 bodies. I assumed it was a raccoon until this afternoon one of the 4 remaining hens was laying an egg and all of a sudden came up out of the coop like a bat out of hell. Me and the rooster ran side by side (literally) up there to see what was up. Seen a weasel under the chicken house. It was about the size of my cat and solid black. Only thing on me was hornet spray. He looked at me and blasted him in the face with it. He took off. 30 minutes later he was back. This time nailed him with a pellet gun. Next time it will be a 7 mag. My question is can weasels carry chickens off? I thought they just killed and left em. And second how can I trap it? I worked on the chicken house all day so I don't think he can get back in it.

 

[bobbi-j]

Last night something got in the coop and killed 7 of my hens. But only found 6 bodies. I assumed it was a raccoon until this afternoon one of the 4 remaining hens was laying an egg and all of a sudden came up out of the coop like a bat out of hell. Me and the rooster ran side by side (literally) up there to see what was up. Seen a weasel under the chicken house. It was about the size of my cat and solid black. Only thing on me was hornet spray. He looked at me and blasted him in the face with it. He took off. 30 minutes later he was back. This time nailed him with a pellet gun. Next time it will be a 7 mag. My question is can weasels carry chickens off? I thought they just killed and left em. And second how can I trap it? I worked on the chicken house all day so I don't think he can get back in it.

Sounds more like a mink (which is basically a big weasel - they're in the same family). A mink can carry off a chicken. Weasels around here are only 7-8" long, and will bite the neck or under the wing and then lap up the blood.

 

[buffboy]

Yeah just googled mink. It was definitely a mink. I have a trap that will hold it but I don't know what to put in it. Tho he may not come back. Had the pellet gun double loaded aimed for his head and definitely hit him. Just don't know if it killed him.

 

[bobbi-j]

They're basically the same thing as a weasel - just bigger.

Hopefully you killed it. I hate the idea of something suffering even if it is going after my chickens. Not that I'm opposed to killing predators - I'm not. We do that here when necessary. I would just rather it be humane.