new chick Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 Hi - Not posted for a while.... But saw something this morning... Whilst making my morning cup of tea I catch sight of a brown/black "thing" on my lawn. Looked up and saw what I think is a Mink run across my lawn towards my chickens The girls free range behind an electric fence. The Mink ran straight through the fence and towards the chicken shed. I ran out side and towards the girls and it ran off. Would a Mink kill a Chicken? I looked on internet to see if this animal was a mink and I am sure it was Anyone had issues with Mink? New Chick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clur Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 I am pretty sure a mink would kill a chicken - if memory serves me right, someone on the forum lost chickens to one. Really not sure how best to protect chickens from them, so hopefully someone with some experienceof this will pipe up soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrensWorld Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 Would a Mink kill a Chicken?.Anyone had issues with Mink?. New Chick I'm afraid that a mink will kill chickens, and goes about it the same way as a fox. Dog pee seems to, or will deter mink. A bit like his pee deters foxes. Mink are very good climbers too. There are lots of mink around here, but everyone owns a dog or two. Our jack Russells keep the mink away from our chooks. edit: Mink are very, very nasty creatures..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sambee Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 Deffinatley. There was a mink that used to kill the cygnets down by the river. They look lovely, but are just as horrible as the fox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 If you live near a water course then it could well have been a mink. They are viscious little blighters and will kill chickens. My netting has very small holes at the bottom and so far I have not had any problems with mink although I have seen a couple nearby. I leave near a river and that's where they like to live and breed. Have you touched your fencing recently to make sure it's working? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 Yes is will definately kill a chicken. I don't know where you are in terms of how rural you are but if you are not in a particularly rural area it could be a polecat/ferret that has been lost or released. It might be worth trying to borrow a cat trap to catch it perhaps. If you are in a rural area it could well be a mink. YOu could still try and trap it but you would need someone willing to 'despatch' it once caught. They are vicious little creatures so mind your fingers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 I wonder if the other thread where a chicken was killed through the slot in the nest box was a mink? Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 I agree, especially as the poster of that thread has mentioned mink killing cygnets locally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted September 25, 2009 Share Posted September 25, 2009 you don't have to be in a rural area either we've got them on the cut about half a mile from me and the 2 places on autum watch last year are both on the same canal less than five mile along the canal from me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky1 Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Mink are even more unpopular round here than foxes - if that's possible. I did hear of a cheap trap for mink. Get about 18" of 4" pipe (sorry don't really do metric) bury it in the ground about 6" or 8" so that it sticks up vertically and place an old piece of fish in the bottom. The idea is that the mink climb up and crawl down the pipe for the snack and then not be able to back out. A little gruesome maybe and I can't say that it definately works as I haven't had to try it - touch wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted September 27, 2009 Share Posted September 27, 2009 We think it was a mink that killed the in-laws chickens last year. They had their throats ripped out and were left lying on the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
