Weka Attack 😭

[The Kooky Kiwi]

I'm so sorry. How awful and frustrating seeing as it's a predator you can't eliminate. Weka are actually removed from 'pest free' sanctuaries here because of their predatory behaviour.

We thankfully don't have weka running around where we are but I've read lots of stories about how they love to steal things.

I'm in Golden Bay - we have LOADS of them here. One or two you could deal with but they're breeding rampant here at the moment. A lot of the predation we see is because there are too many of them competing for finite food supplies. The chickens and their eggs are generally their last resort but man oh man, once they get a taste, they're ruthless.

I think the weirdest thing they've ever thieved here was a stink old soccer sock that my teenager had left for so long on the porch that the mud had caked it solid. I watched the weka run off with it before abandoning it in the paddock!!

 

[JaeG]

I'm in Golden Bay - we have LOADS of them here. One or two you could deal with but they're breeding rampant here at the moment. A lot of the predation we see is because there are too many of them competing for finite food supplies. The chickens and their eggs are generally their last resort but man oh man, once they get a taste, they're ruthless.

I think the weirdest thing they've ever thieved here was a stink old soccer sock that my teenager had left for so long on the porch that the mud had caked it solid. I watched the weka run off with it before abandoning it in the paddock!!

You're making me very glad not to have them around here (we are up in Northland near Dargaville). Though we have lost a hen to a passing stoat that thankfully didn't come back.

They sound like the Kiwi version of a raccoon!

 

[The Kooky Kiwi]

They sound like the Kiwi version of a raccoon!

That's probably a very accurate comparison yes.

 

[cmom]

I'm glad we don't have them here. I did a little research on them as well. Good luck...

 

[Chooksprc]

I'm about to adopt a 7 year old chook.. Will the weka I have here, kill her? I will have her caged for a few days then free range her