I am sooooooo annoyed (again)....... chickens dead!

[davefromthechipie]

Im shocked seeing/reading that so sorry for your chooks & you matthew.
Can't believe anyone# would do this let alone allotment growers.... But kinda looks that way , So no holes/runs marks under the run ? If its rat safe ;then someone must of done it >.<
Hope the ccv shows what happened.

[RichmondHens]

So sorry to hear about your hens. As only your hens have been killed, there may indeed be a two legged culprit about, but if your birds weren't shut up in the hen house then possibly a stoat may have come in and had a party.
Hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

[Snadger]

So sorry to hear about your hens. As only your hens have been killed, there may indeed be a two legged culprit about, but if your birds weren't shut up in the hen house then possibly a stoat may have come in and had a party.
Hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

Mine aren't 'shut up' each night so would a 60cm width of fine chicken wire around the base of the run deter a stoat or weasil? My weldmesh is 1.5 inches by 6 inches and the run is totally enclosed!

[Nicos]

I have an electric fence ( not cheap) which almost guarantees no entry to animals as small as rats.
The mesh at the base is 5cm x5 cm....and electrified

[minskey]

Oh matthew2riches I am so sorry for you.
I was working in the 'yard' at home earlier this year when a waesel came in and more or less ran over my feet, i watched it potter around for abouut 20mins thinking how sweet it was and it suddenly dawned it would kill my chooks, chased it away with a broom. I have an electric fence but I know in my heart of hearts that I'll go over to them one day and they'll be dead.

[Bephlam]

It's really sad. I sincerely hope it's not a 2 legged killer...that always shocks and disappoints me!

[Polly Fouracre]

I do hope you get to the bottom of this. Not only is it so distressing to find them dead , it is also darned expensive to replace them!

[RichmondHens]

Snadger, I honestly don't know what would deter a stoat or weasel. If they are determined I'm sure they would find a way in. All I can say is I make sure all the birds are shut in the house every night behind strong doors (my husband makes all our hen housing and it's v v strong) and we have never lost a bird to a predator of any sort at night.

[Hilary B]

If it wasn't human-assisted ferret, is the site near(ish) to a river? Could it be a feral mink? They are pretty savage......

[Snadger]

If it wasn't human-assisted ferret, is the site near(ish) to a river? Could it be a feral mink? They are pretty savage......

How would a feral mink let itself in though?

[chuckles]

HI, Sorry to hear the news. How heartbreaking.
Does anyone else have chooks on the lottie there and if so are theirs ok ? Another culprit could be RATS. They will tunnel underneath and get in anywhere unless its like Fort Knox. My neighbour lost all his to a fox recently and its not nice to walk in and find what you did. He had no idea how it got in but another neighbour had seen one around a few days earlier.

[Hilary B]

How would a feral mink let itself in though?

Like all members of the weasel tribe, they can get through smaller holes than you might expect.....

[Hans Mum]

sorry to hear your news, hope the CCTV gives you a clue as to how it happened

[matthew2riches]

Hi,

No water so not really any mink.

My fencing is about 1.5" apart and it is dug right into the ground. It certainly isn't rats. The jaw marks were far too big!

And there is the fact that the chickens have been there for a year and a half and never been touched by anything. I think it is someone rather than some thing. With all the agro we had over the cockerel and a certain person wanting us off. It seems so fishy it stinks!

I am going to see about the CCTV later on today. I don't really hold any hopes for it. Will let you know. :-(

[matthew2riches]

Another thing...

I would hate to put more girls down there and have the same thing happen to them!

I might see about putting them in the back garden at home in some electric fencing. My dogs would soon learn!

That would give me more growing space on the allotment until someone starts damaging my vegetables as well.

There are houses about 150 yards away so I might ask some people. The girls must of made hell of a racket waiting to be killed :-( :-(