Mink mafia

[Guest JohnGalway]

Hi folks,

 

Just got a rather flustered call from a good mate of mine, which is unusual for him. The details I have at the moment are sketchy at best and I've not yet seen the sight. Apparently, last night what we believe to be a mink entered his hen house and killed the rooster There was half a block left out of the wall so the hens could get from the yard into the house, he doesn't think a fox could get through it.

 

Previous to this there were hens killed on two of his neighbours. I caged a mink not too far from all of these people in the spring I think it was and nothing happened since then, we thought that was him. Maybe not, or maybe this is a new guy.

 

Since I only have live catch cages at the moment I said I'd pop back later with them. The only times I've caught mink previously has been beside streams using John West sardines in sunflower oil. I couldn't find smoked kippers locally. Also got some kite kat, wonder is that worth a try in one Looking for suggestions for bait at the moment, could be some rooster left over and I guess a few feathers scattered outside of the cage would be a good visual attractant. Should I place anything hanging in the back of the cage? Have access to plenty of sheeps wool as well.

 

Hopefully catch the murderous little bugger tonight, but I'll try to get pics of the area and what I set anyway just incase I don't get a result and ye'll better be able to see what the situation is (if I'm let take piccies that is ).

 

Any ideas or suggestions, throw them this way please

 

ATB,

 

John

[wheaton 0]

If a chicken can get thru the gap so can a fox

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Any smelly bait mate .More to do with where you site said cage .Good luck .

Edited September 2, 2008 by foxdropper

[DUCKWING 302]

WELL MATE ,

 

IF THE HEN HUTS AWAY FROM WATER IT WILL PROBABLY BE A DOG MINK ............

 

REMEMBER WHEN YOU CATCH ONE ANOTHER WILL MOVE INTO ITS AREA !

 

AS FAR AS THE HOLE LEFT OUT OF THE WALL ........ I REALLY CANNOT BELIVE FELLAS STILL DONT USE COMMON SENCE AND MAKE THE HOLE 4 FOOT ABOVE GROUND LEVEL WITH A PERCH POLE INSIDE AND OUT ABOUT 12 " OFF THE WALL ,....... THE POULTRY CAN GET IN AND OUT EASILY , PREDATORS FIND IT A LOT HARDER ....... ANOTHER METHOD THE OLD HILL FARMERS USED WAS A ROW OF CHAINS DANGLEING DOWN OVER THE POP HOLE ... THEY SAID IT KEPT THE FOXES OUT

 

BY THE WAY .......... THE ATTACK HAPPEN EARLY MORNING

 

 

ALL THE BEST

 

 

DUCKWING

[Guest JohnGalway]

No pics I'm afraid, too dark and odd look when I mentioned it lol but a bit more detail.

 

Definately wasn't a fox. The hole in the wall going into the hen house comes in from a fenced in yard, completely fenced in including the roof. I took my time looking around it and there are zero holes in it. No other way in. But a mink sized animal could fit through the fence no problem.

 

So, I set one cage right in the hole in the wall. I wrapped it in a black plastic sack, seems to have worked before. I baited it with oily sardines, put a small amount of them at the cage entrance. I also dipped some sheeps wool into the oil and hung it at the back of the cage, then scattered some light coloured feathers around the entrance.

 

The hole is entirely blocked now. There is a concrete block ontop of the cage inside the hen house so the cage can't be moved.

 

I've a fair feeling this will catch

 

I'll suggest the entrance for the hens higher up He thinks it happened early morning too. I said to text me in the morning even if nothing happened lol, I'm impatient.

[Guest JohnGalway]

 

Knew I'd catch the little git Just got the text Mate shot him with his .22 in the cage this morning Will reset the cage today and have photos tonight

 

I love it when a plan comes together

[woodga 170]

nice one mate

[Guest JohnGalway]

[The one 8,459]

Nice one it look's almost black

[Guest JohnGalway]

Yeah it was darker that ones I got before, I took that photo late evening, maybe that had something to do with the colouring in the pic here as the mink wasn't actually as dark as shown here.