What to do about weasels

[Chickengirl64]

New to chickens: lost all my chickens this weekend to what I think was a weasel. Not a pretty site. Any comments/suggestions welcome. Want more chickens, but need to keep them safe. Thought I had my coop reinforced pretty good but evidently I am not smarter than a weasel.

Thank you, sad chickengirl64.

 

[EeyoreD]

Oh I'm so sorry that happened. That sucks. Are you sure it was a weasel?

I know it's a bit grisly but can you give us more details on what you found as well as details on your coop construction? That may help us give you better answers.

(and don't feel too bad. Weasels, mink, fishers, etc pretty much all mustelids are so extremely clever when it comes to nabbing a meal)

 

[Chickengirl64]

I'm not completely sure it was but some neighbors were telling us that weasels rip the heads off the chickens. The heads were ripped off and the bodies were torn apart (I could see insides). The coop was there when we bought the house. It has an outdoor run - an interior room with a chicken door into that from the outside, then another interior room where they roost and their feed/water is at. The coop is completely enclosed in chicken wire (top and sides, outside and inside). The hens liked to nest by the fence and dug themselves a little indentation which you could evidently reach from the outside. After I lost the 1st 2 chickens, I reinforced that hole, with hardware cloth and tile pieces, then put a big rock in front of the chicken door when I closed the last chicken up. The darn thing redug the hole, somehow got through a small gap in the hardware cloth, then dug another hole under the piece of plywood that separated the exterior from the first interior room (the chicken door is in the plywood).

 

[iwiw60]

I'm not completely sure it was but some neighbors were telling us that weasels rip the heads off the chickens. The heads were ripped off and the bodies were torn apart (I could see insides). The coop was there when we bought the house. It has an outdoor run - an interior room with a chicken door into that from the outside, then another interior room where they roost and their feed/water is at. The coop is completely enclosed in chicken wire (top and sides, outside and inside). The hens liked to nest by the fence and dug themselves a little indentation which you could evidently reach from the outside. After I lost the 1st 2 chickens, I reinforced that hole, with hardware cloth and tile pieces, then put a big rock in front of the chicken door when I closed the last chicken up. The darn thing redug the hole, somehow got through a small gap in the hardware cloth, then dug another hole under the piece of plywood that separated the exterior from the first interior room (the chicken door is in the plywood).

We really need PICTURES to help you to make changes/reinforcements to your setup. So sorry this has happened, but without some major changes in the setup you currently have, now that that weasel has found you...it WILL be back. Pics, please!

 

[Chickengirl64]

Oh I know it will be back that's why I'm asking for help. I don't know what to do. I'll take some pictures and post tomorrow.

Thank you.

cg64

 

[seann]

Also start researching on weasel trap. If it's really weasel.
Sorry for your loss.

 

[Chickengirl64]

To any one who has fought weasels - I've been reading that chicken wire is only effective at keeping chickens in, not predators out, and that one should use hardware cloth.

Also, since weasels are diggers, how deep do you bury the edge of the wire?

I'm still working on trying to get a solution to this as I really, really miss my chickens.

cg64.

 

[iwiw60]

Quote:
This will give you a good idea as to how to extend your hardware cloth! Hope this helps!

 

[Chickengirl64]

Thank you very much. I believe this will help a whole bunch. cg64

 

[amenfarm]

I think it was a raccoon. they will rip off anything they can get a hand on. That picture of the hardware cloth is perfect. make sure ANY repairs are fixed using fender washer set with 1 1/2 or 2 inch screws. Use a pair of pliers after the repair--grasp the wire and pull like crazy!! if the wire brakes wrong gage, if the fastener pulls out, change and reinforce it.