The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: blades on November 10, 2015, 12:40:19 pm

Title: A weasel....
Post by: blades on November 10, 2015, 12:40:19 pm
I had a coop of bantams wiped out at the weekend... I found the weasel still inside feeding on the birds it had killed... It fled once I opened the door. I've put traps out but so far no luck. Last night it went into a larger coop and killed the smallest of our hens. All the other birds are bigger hens. I can only think it's getting in under the contours of the corrugated roof? Any ideas of how to put these critters off! Would a large cockerel make any difference?


A few people has suggested keeping Muscovy ducks instead of chickens as it appears I have moved to the weasel capital of Scotland!!


I always thought weasels were cute... Not anymore :-(
Title: Re: A weasel....
Post by: clydesdaleclopper on November 10, 2015, 12:41:42 pm
Get yourself an Egyptian Mau - ours catch loads of weasels.
Title: Re: A weasel....
Post by: blades on November 10, 2015, 01:01:09 pm
Get yourself an Egyptian Mau - ours catch loads of weasels.


Oh I'd love one but sad I have an allergy to cats and most dogs
Title: Re: A weasel....
Post by: Marches Farmer on November 10, 2015, 01:38:11 pm
Upping security is the only way, I'm afraid.  We had a turkey hen on four young poults this summer and a weasel got through a 6cm hole.  We think the turkey hen stayed put with the poults under her to protect them as all the feathers were completely scraped off her back, but the weasel triumphed in the end.  We found a poult chewed up and spat out in the field the next day. 
Title: Re: A weasel....
Post by: clydesdaleclopper on November 10, 2015, 02:15:11 pm
Get yourself an Egyptian Mau - ours catch loads of weasels.


Oh I'd love one but sad I have an allergy to cats and most dogs


My OH is allergic to cats but he is OK with the Mau's.
Title: Re: A weasel....
Post by: vfr400boy on November 11, 2015, 06:14:18 am
I'd get your self some fenn traps and set them in tunnels around your coops (just make sure you set them very light )