Author Topic: Stoat attack (Read 3875 times)

aaronsundin · « **on:** October 24, 2012, 05:21:19 pm »

Hi everyone ,
not a good day here , this afternoon one of my young banties ( about 4 months old ) was killed by a stoat . I was upstairs and heard a sqwarking noise , looked out of the window and saw this stoat latched on to her . By the time I got to her and scared the stoat off the deed was done . I knew there were stoats around as I've noticed one now and again for a while now , and have seen evidence of them trying to dig into the chicken coops at night . All the chooks are free range during the day . This is the first time I've seen a blatant attack in broad day light . Does anyone know how to deal with a stoat problem ?
Any comments and advise , much appreciated.

Fleecewife · « **Reply #1 on:** October 24, 2012, 05:32:45 pm »

We have lost a handful of small hens to a stoat family over the summer. However, my attitude is that the stoats are rather wonderful, especially the cheeky babies, and they are not greedy like foxes, and kill only for their survival rather than for fun like foxes and humans.
We are protecting our hens a bit better now and hoping the stoats will concentrate on ridding us of the rabbits

jaykay · « **Reply #2 on:** October 24, 2012, 06:06:04 pm »

Yes, although I have lost the odd pheasant to one, I rather like them and i sort of hope they also eat rats?

lachlanandmarcus · « **Reply #3 on:** October 24, 2012, 06:10:08 pm »

we had one and it used to steal the hens eggs but leave the hens, so think it does only kill for food at least our one! It only stole blue eggs tho, my theory is that the blue ones were more like wild birds eggs and so favoured. Literally 100% taken were blue and we found a huge stash of shells and Mr Stoat some time later.

clydesdaleclopper · « **Reply #4 on:** October 24, 2012, 09:16:52 pm »

Our cats kill stoats (4 so far this year) so maybe get yourself an Egyptian Mau

Will.i.lamb · « **Reply #5 on:** October 24, 2012, 09:33:48 pm »

Hi

I would recommend getting a fen trap No 4, stick it in a box with a smallish hole at each end and put it against your hen run. Being very inquisitive creatures you should have no problem catching the blighter.

Don't be fooled by their small size, they are a fearsome predator.

A few years ago i used to see one hanging about the garden. I ignored as never thought it was a problem. Everything was fine until the cold weather arrived and the stoats food supply dried up and it turned it's attention to the hens, killed 4 and seriously injured another in less than 10 minutes.

Good luck