A Family Guide To Keeping Chickens (38 page)
Read A Family Guide To Keeping Chickens Online
Authors: Anne Perdeaux
Mink are widespread throughout Britain
The otter is larger than a mink, and is protected
Watch out for mink if you have water nearby. They tend to explore rabbit warrens so stop-up any burrows in the vicinity.
Any mink caught in a trap must be humanely despatched. It is an offence to release mink back into the wild.
My Mink Attack
Living close to a river, I have probably been ‘lucky’ to have only experienced one mink attack. I was also fortunate enough to return home during the killing spree – in time to see and hear one of my hens being slaughtered. The mink completely ignored my yells and it was only by beating it off with a lunge whip that I saved my buff Orpington cockerel. All that was left of a pretty little Pekin cockerel was a pile of grey feathers on the riverbank. We had a return visit when the mink took one of our youngsters, but once we had invested in a mink trap it left us alone. Telling the local fishing syndicate about its presence may also have helped.
The mink is related to the otter, which is a much larger animal with a flatter tail and broader face. It is making a comeback in Britain’s rivers and may also be found around some rocky coasts. Although they mainly eat fish, otters have been known to take waterfowl and poultry if the opportunity presents itself, and they are certainly strong enough to do some damage. Otters are generally shyer than mink and more likely to be nocturnal (apart from coastal otters). They are a protected species.
Stoats, Weasels, Polecats, Ferrets and Pine Martens
Stoats are larger than weasels, have a black tip to their tails and some turn white in winter, when they are known as ermine. It’s not easy to tell them apart but both animals are a danger to chickens and can get through incredibly small openings. They can be caught in traps.
Wild polecats and escaped domestic ferrets are efficient killers, although polecats are fairly rare. The two species can interbreed. Ferrets are less likely to be wary of people, but usually don’t survive long in the wild. Both these creatures can get through very small gaps.
Pine martens are mainly found in Scotland and Ireland, although there have been occasional sightings in upland areas of England and Wales too. About the size of a small cat, these attractive animals certainly pose a danger to chickens, although they are mainly nocturnal. They tend to enlarge holes in rotten wood, rather than make new ones, and are excellent climbers. Electric netting is a good defence and an electrified overhang around the chicken run may be needed for a persistent offender. The pine marten is a protected species.
Stoat
Polecat
Birds of PreySome birds of prey will take chickens – especially small breeds or youngsters. The chickens usually raise the alarm if a hawk is around and free-range birds will try to hide under bushes. A roofed run can protect enclosed chickens.
Crows, Magpies, Jackdaws and RooksThese birds will steal chicks and eggs. Very small bantams could also be at risk.
This section of the bird family is known for intelligence so don’t tempt them with easily accessible food or uncollected eggs. Pinning strips of plastic (cut-up black bin-bags are ideal) along the tops of the pop-holes should help keep them out of the henhouse. The hens will push through the strips, but the darkened coop will be less inviting to wild birds, who will also find the movement of the plastic disconcerting, while the eggs will be less visible.
However, there is an advantage to having some of these birds around – they will give an early warning of hawks and will chase them off too.
Magpies are sometimes thieves . . .
