[NorthEssexsmallholding]

I saw a weasel down the road from my smallholding, I read that they can kill chickens, has anyone had any problems with them.  I have been concentrating on fox proofing my fence and neglected all thought on stoats, weasels and cats.  I'm thinking that a weasel could easily slip under the electric wire and bite through the chicken wire, I'm now worried that my hens are at risk from these predators.

The only good thing about the abundance of rabbits in my field is that theres a massive source of food for weasels/stoats.

[SallyintNorth]

That's about the size of it - yes, weasels can take chickens and will do so.  But are unlikely to take a healthy hen if there are other easier prey about.

[jaykay]

Weasels can get pretty much anywhere   Only 1/4 weld mesh seems to stop them - and stoats. But yes, they'll go for rabbits first.

So - how do you tell the difference between them? Well.... Weasels are weasily recognised and stoats are stotally different  

[SallyintNorth]

So - how do you tell the difference between them? Well.... Weasels are weasily recognised and stoats are stotally different  

 

And WEEEEasels are the WEE ones (smaller than stoats.) 

And the stoat has a black tip to his tail, which I can remember because the tail tip stays black when the stoat gets his winter white coat and becomes ermine.  Sometimes I can't remember whether it's stoats or weasels that become ermine in winter, and then I'm in trouble...