Weasel?

[CharlotteBEe]

Agrees.
Doesn't look like a raccoon track to me.

Did you find any breaches in the chicken wire inner fence?

Yes in the corner of the coop yard (that was done earlier in the evening by my sister’s dog [they were visiting and he is bird friendly] he wanted to lay down underneath their hen house[he’s normally not allowed in this portion as it is suppose to be the birds safe space] )and I did not fixed the fencing right away when I should have. I thought it could have waited until the next morning as they do not sleep in the hen house but I was very wrong

Right now I left the openings as they are hoping to catch the culprit… so far nothing has been tempted but it did snow this morning. .. so I’ve just left the traps as everyone is staying in anyways.

 

[lagrange chicks]

I hope you have traps set for racoon because that is 100% coon tracks. Bait traps with tuna, sardines or even a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is probably better than un- tainted pork.

 

[DuneDucks]

I'd agree those are raccoon tracks. I've trapped a couple this week and the prints I found were more or less identical. They will 100% go at the neck to get into the chest cavity. I've had luck using marshmallows and old eggs as bait.

 

[CharlotteBEe]

The intruder came back around 330pm! The intruder is a weasel. He was on top of the chicken coop trying to get in the closed raccoon trap, probably looking for more meat. Little Dee (my other guinea sounded the alarm) while my four roosters did nothing ….

Ive been using two traps, a raccoon and a squirrel trap. Last night the raccoon trap was not triggered but all the meat was gone (I had a trail leading to the back of the trap). I placed the raccoon trap in the run area close to the woods along the fence. The squirrel trap that I had inside the hen house (right at the chicken door) still was in triggered with the meat. This morning I placed both traps on top of the hen house where the chickens and guinea could not get to them. This is where the weasel was … on top of the coop!!!!!!!!! I think he had to have come from above (the hen house has openings for ventilation… ) and this is how he got my guinea from the rafter.

From my research weasels are small and vicious. The are called little serial killers. Not sure what i am going to do to keep him out… I’m getting hardwire cloth. Hopefully i catch him soon. (Going to be keeping the traps out as a preventative measure in the future as well as motion detection lights and alarms). I will have a fortified fortress soon.

Everyone is back inside….

 

[DuneDucks]

Yeah weasels are nasty, vicious little things. Keeping your traps going and covering every little gap you can with hardware cloth is about as much as you can do. Good luck!

 

[lagrange chicks]

Good you identified the critter but those tracks are still racoon (Trapper for 40 years). For weasel bait it needs to be fresh and bloody, they shy away from rotten meat.

 

[TOR]

rule 1 fortify to keep all predators out
having problems use game camera
Google weasel trap, easy to make or buy one
Weasels are prone to biting around neck, drink blood, chew head off, kill all your birds. Will carry or drag off bird if able back to burrow. Will hunt day or night and do not store fat, they need keep eating, Weasels climb very well (dont know about a chain link fence?)

The coon which could be a track (very similar)can climb your chainlink fence, the weasel go thru it.
hardware cloth
Electric fence about 4 to 6 inch of ground will keep coon, possum, skunk away

Raccoon also can grab thru chainlink fence, grab chicken and eat its head, Raccoon can also undo easy locks like slider gate lock, they can be very persitant, dig, climb, chew.
Coon is big enough get ahold of bird may just carry it away, coon will eat a bird feathers and all.
Thought to edit, weasels are good for keeping unwanted vermin away, they are not totally a bad animal.

Hope this helps good luck

 

[CharlotteBEe]

rule 1 fortify to keep all predators out
having problems use game camera
Google weasel trap, easy to make or buy one
Weasels are prone to biting around neck, drink blood, chew head off, kill all your birds. Will carry or drag off bird if able back to burrow. Will hunt day or night and do not store fat, they need keep eating, Weasels climb very well (dont know about a chain link fence?)

The coon which could be a track (very similar)can climb your chainlink fence, the weasel go thru it.
hardware cloth
Electric fence about 4 to 6 inch of ground will keep coon, possum, skunk away

Raccoon also can grab thru chainlink fence, grab chicken and eat its head, Raccoon can also undo easy locks like slider gate lock, they can be very persitant, dig, climb, chew.
Coon is big enough get ahold of bird may just carry it away, coon will eat a bird feathers and all.
Thought to edit, weasels are good for keeping unwanted vermin away, they are not totally a bad animal.

Hope this helps good luck

Thank you for all the helpful tips and input! I know he was just doing what weasels do but am not a fan. The traps I have are ‘live catch and release’ traps so am not looking to kill just want to keep my chickens safe. I do think the weasel is watching unfortunately and very smart. The squirrel trap I have is similar to a weasel trap. If it makes a difference the type of weasel I am trying to catch is a mink. Apparently I have the perfect environment for the mink (wooded area with a small stream). I’ve listened to recordings of what they sound like and I definitely hear it and we’ve had a couple of sightings. He stays away when I have my sheep dog is out in the run with the chickens .