And then there was one....

[Rhonda]

One lonely chicken left. Guess Tuesday night's death was not natural, should have known but there was barely a mark on her. So apparently the weasel must have heard us because last night's killing was a blood bath. Have nine videos on the trail cam...all of restless sleeping chickens none of the murder and the camera was even knocked over. Still don't see a hole or even a tunnel in the shavings where the thing is getting in. Maybe I have a ghost weasel? Will bring the last one into the basement tonight and can then fill the hen house with rat traps...might be my last shot at it.

[SandyM]

Oh Rhonda .. I'm so sorry. You must be incredibly frustrated. Can you go out at night and shine a strong light all around the coop? With someone inside to see any light shinning in?

[Jaye]

That's just awful, and so sad, Rhonda.
I'm curious, how do you know it's a weasel? I'm asking because I've heard that Fishers tend to keep coming back until they have depleted the food source, and they make a big mess too.

[Rhonda]

I am sure it is a weasel because when I lost my entire silkie flock the little bugger was still in the barn when I went out to do chores. Actually sat there and stared at me and didn't run away till I yelled at it and threw my water jug at it. Bold little sh*t. Fishers are quite a bit bigger than weasels and I am sure too big to get into my buildings.

We did have fishers in our area for a few years when we first moved to our place. I actually liked having them around. Of course this was before we had chickens!Our area was over run with porcupines. You never left the house that you didn't see one. Very hard on the dogs (they never learn) and even got our pony a couple of times. When the fishers moved in the took care of the porcupine over population.

[Rhonda]

When we bring our survivor in to the basement we are going to strip out all the shavings, lift the rubber matting and see if there is a hole in the floor or a corner somewhere we are missing. Just find it hard to believe as the floor boards came from a site my husband was working at...plywood with steel on top and bottom, then we have rubber mats laid on top. The man door is solid and caulked all around it, window is completely closed now. Thought the chicken door was the weak link but we completely sealed it with a sheet of plywood. Just can't believe I got nothing on the camera...enough batteries in it to tell me I removed the card so why didn't it record? Arrrgggghhhh!

[Ontario Chick]

That is truly awful, once they find a food source they just keep coming back.
When we started keeping chickens we built a self contained cage inside the barn, the only way to keep it predator proof, and actually had a raccoon pull a chicken head thru a 1"x1" wire during the night.
It seems that over the years dealing with different predators we have eventually ended up with Fort Knox poultry coop, yet every few years something completely new crops up.

[Rhonda]

I think that is one of the frustrating parts Ontario Chick..I always knew the barn pens were vulnerable, they are wired to be raccoon proof but we learned they are not weasel proof. It was built for horses and the stalls and sliding door have cracks large enough for weasels to get in. But my hen house I thought was a safe place. In 13 years the only birds I have lost is when I have forgotten to close up the door at night. We even had a raccoon give birth in the attic space and never lost a bird that year. I was really hoping the camera would give us the clue we are missing.

[Killerbunny]

Just couldn't believe it hen I saw this, so sorry. We have been lucky so far, the only weasel seen was shot by my hubby last summer. Maybe you'll find the hole when you strip the coop.

[ross]

I know it doesn't work for all but that's the reason I carry a shotgun to the barn (ready) every time I go there . Sum Beech Rhonda .

[terciera]

if u can get a hold of a small live trap cover it with hardware cloth put in a box cut an opening in the box for the trap door take a dead bird put it on top of trap close box shut only way in is through the trap door ive caught 2 this way just make sure u tape top of box so it cant get in from the top