My chicken coop

[pargyle]

Coming up to the time of year when there are cubs ... I lost my two free ranging garden hens at 3.00pm on a Sunday afternoon .. and we have a free ranging 85lb labrador who hates foxes ... fox killed them both but took only one. One of my freinds lost all 13 of hers in the middle of the day .. she went out shopping and left them in the garden .. she came back to a scene like a charnel house - a fox won't stop until it has killed them all - you almost would not mind so much if they just took one - but they don't. They are killing on the basis that they will come back later for the rest.

Urban foxes seem to be less reticent about coming out in daylight - they are effectively the top of the urban foodchain - not much to scare them really.

Free range by all means ... behind a fox proof fence.

 

[Millet]

There is two other lethal predators out there that get over looked, Mink and Otters will also kill chickens, Mink being the more dangerous because they can climb trees like a squirrel and fit through pretty small gaps and they are very strong blood thirsty animals, i was on a Mink hunt several years ago and the hunt was called too a caravan park that had just about all of its ornamental ducks killed by a pair of mink, we killed the mink and solved the issue.

 

[Erichalfbee]

We have a mallard nesting at the base of some willow on the apiary pond island in exactly the same place she was last year. The blooming mink got the eggs just about hatching time last year. She had sat so patiently I was desperately sorry for her. This year we had put a duck house up but too late. She had already started her clutch. I live in hope.

 

[Millet]

We have a mallard nesting at the base of some willow on the apiary pond island in exactly the same place she was last year. The blooming mink got the eggs just about hatching time last year. She had sat so patiently I was desperately sorry for her. This year we had put a duck house up but too late. She had already started her clutch. I live in hope.

Trap the mink Erica they are lethal, they have nearly wiped the indigenous water Vole out, nothing is safe they even catch fish.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Mink are rife in this area (and Erichalfbee's) thanks to those air headed animal rights nutters. their numbers are falling though as otter number build up and there are quite a few mink trapping schemes in the area as they have played havoc with fish stocks. Got to be careful in our valley as people sometimes get them confused with polecats.

 

[Alan and Anthea]

Suggest you cut a square pop-hole that will let the hens in and out; use a sliding metal hatch which will slide up and down on two simple side guides to open and close it. With a rope on 2 pulley wheels like on a clothes line) you can raise and lower it from the ground to let the hens out and to close in at night. Much simpler and safer and keeps the hens in until later rather than being out and about at 5.00 am on a summer morning when foxes are still out hunting. I agree with the comments on losing them through the day as we have lost a few especially when foxes are feeding cubs but that is the chance you take if you don't want to fence an area off.
Alan

 

[Millet]

Suggest you cut a square pop-hole that will let the hens in and out; use a sliding metal hatch which will slide up and down on two simple side guides to open and close it. With a rope on 2 pulley wheels like on a clothes line) you can raise and lower it from the ground to let the hens out and to close in at night. Much simpler and safer and keeps the hens in until later rather than being out and about at 5.00 am on a summer morning when foxes are still out hunting. I agree with the comments on losing them through the day as we have lost a few especially when foxes are feeding cubs but that is the chance you take if you don't want to fence an area off.
Alan

Everyone i make or modify i do that too, it's been done for years and makes life so much easier. IMO it will help the original poster closing up before dark but it does not stop a fox problem.

 

[BeeJayBee]

Suggest you cut a square pop-hole that will let the hens in and out; use a sliding metal hatch which will slide up and down on two simple side guides to open and close it. With a rope on 2 pulley wheels like on a clothes line) you can raise and lower it from the ground to let the hens out and to close in at night.

My Dad organised something similar by attaching the ropes (cords) to the end of the ladder, so when the ladder is raised at night the door closes and vice versa in the morning. But the ladder wasn't anywhere near as long as yours.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Trap the mink Erica they are lethal, they have nearly wiped the indigenous water Vole out, nothing is safe they even catch fish.

Yes I should do that. Any advice on trap and how to catch it/them?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Yes I should do that. Any advice on trap and how to catch it/them?

cage trap on a raft
http://www.gwct.org.uk/wildlife/research/mammals/american-mink/the-gwct-mink-raft/

contact GWCT, BASC, the Countryside Alliance or one of the angling conservation groups - they'll be happy to advise and even supply a trap if they think it will be beneficial

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thanks for that JBM. I'll get onto it after Easter

 

[Millet]

Yes I should do that. Any advice on trap and how to catch it/them?

Kania body grip traps are the preferred method but you will need a bit of experience with trapping for them too be effective, plus you need 2 hands to set them and if it miss fires on one of your hands you can't get them back of without help..lol.

You are better of giving a live catch rabbit trap a go, for bait stick a lump of fish or chicken in there and scatter some white feathers around the entrance as a visual attractant, cover the top/ sides and back with dry grass or try to bury the trap into a embankment making sure not to hinder the trigger mechanism.
Google videos on catching mink or i will now and stick what i think is a decent link up for you.

About 3 minutes into this has it covered, ignore him feeding his plastic ducks.. lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btnn7sIUTcc&list=PLzfbALaVW4wkjN_bljgpwD1SsAdT4wxgB&index=18

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thank you Millet. I am sat on a wifi-less train to Glasgow at present. On my way to see daughter perform her storytelling. There's motherly dedication for you. Will look when I get to the palatial comfort of my Travelodge

 

[Ely]

Foxes will work out to come during the day if they can't get them at night. This is what happened to mine. Quick snatch and grab

 

[chrisb]

if trapping Mink make sure were gloves if you have one in a wire trap, they go absolutely mental

 

[Greggorio]

I don't know if making the ladder rickety is important but thinner round treads (just cut branches from a tree) and the ladders upright from a long straight bit of ash or hazel or whatever.

Foxes are clever but there is still a limit to what they can do. They are essentially small dogs and have the same capabilities

 

[Millet]

I don't know if making the ladder rickety is important but thinner round treads (just cut branches from a tree) and the ladders upright from a long straight bit of ash or hazel or whatever.

Foxes are clever but there is still a limit to what they can do. They are essentially small dogs and have the same capabilities

I have seen one in a tree before today that no dog could ever climb, and they can fit where a fart could not, after skinning one i found out why, there body shape is just about identical to a cat.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

I have seen one in a tree before today that no dog could ever climb, and they can fit where a fart could not, after skinning one i found out why, there body shape is just about identical to a cat.

Ok I'll ask - did it taste like chicken?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I have seen one in a tree before today that no dog could ever climb, and they can fit where a fart could not, after skinning one i found out why, there body shape is just about identical to a cat.

What type of cat did you skin for comparison?

 

[Millet]

Ok I'll ask - did it taste like chicken?

I can not answer that as i only wanted the skin, however one of my terriers that would eat anything you put infront of him was not keen on the meat.