coco Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 A friend of mine keeps bantams in a large WIR. She has found two hens that have been killed on two consecutive night. On Sunday morning she found a young minature silkie and this morning a chamois polish. Both hens were found under the house The silkie was minus its head and the polish had been ripped open. She thinks it might be a rat but I thought possibly a mink. She is going to make sure that they are all locked in the house tonight Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Tea Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 That's so sad Have no idea what it could be though - the only small birds I've seen have their heads taken off have been attacked by magpies but I'm guessing the WIR probably has a roof so would assume like you say that it's some small mammal attacking them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 Sounds like a mink or a stoat. Sorry to hear it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted August 8, 2011 Share Posted August 8, 2011 I had the same problem last year and lost 7 hens altogether. I was told it was probably a mink or stoat, or possibly rats, and with the benefit of hindsight I am pretty sure it was rats. I have had no more losses since getting pest control in regularly, and closing the eglu door at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted August 8, 2011 Author Share Posted August 8, 2011 Its a shame as she had only bought the silkie on Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BocBoc Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 really sad. Hope your friend catches the cuprit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 Anyone near there keep ferrets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted August 9, 2011 Author Share Posted August 9, 2011 Not that she knows off. Sh is very rural and lives next to woods and a stream, she thinks its probably a rat as the silkie was tiny and the polish had couldn't see a thing due to its hairdo. She has started locking them up at night and has put a baited humane trap down, so fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
