Chickens killed

allenview

Found my 5 chickens dead in run this morning,not a single feather ruffled just a single bite on the back of the neck ,I am about 500m from a 12 acres of a young oak plantation which is being thinned ,would this be a pine martin ,I did see one there about 2 years ago , any idea of trapping it and relocating it somewhere else.

bassy

sounds like a pine martin alrite,same happened my dads hens years ago.all up around the kneck was where the were killed.

Victor

Pine martens are protected - talk to NPWS to see what can be done.

bassy

best to lock them in at nite and not leave them out in the run.

bulleyes

Classic signs of a Mink attack.

270WIN

Sounds like a mink alright

Eddie B

Probably a Pine Marten alright. As said, they are protected, so all you can do is proof your pen and lock chickens in at night.

As for mink, decent cage trap set tight to pen, with fish as bait. Sardines in sunflower oil works well. Most predators will go for it.

Kran

Eddie B wrote: »

Probably a Pine Marten alright. As said, they are protected, so all you can do is proof your pen and lock chickens in at night.

As for mink, decent cage trap set tight to pen, with fish as bait. Sardines in sunflower oil works well. Most predators will go for it.

Could you just trap the Pine Martin in the same cage trap and then relocate it?

allenview

Don't think it is a mink no streams or rivers near me , have chickens here for the last 20 years have the odd clear out with a fox but never had a pine martin kill till now , Fox usually leaves a feathered mess all over the place , the pine martin was like a sniper .

allenview

Don't think it is a mink no streams or rivers near me , have chickens here for the last 20 years have the odd clear out with a fox but never had a pine martin kill till now , Fox usually leaves a feathered mess all over the place , the pine martin was like a sniper .

Victor

Kran wrote: »

Could you just trap the Pine Martin in the same cage trap and then relocate it?

Not during breeding season.

Birdnuts

allenview wrote: »

Don't think it is a mink no streams or rivers near me , have chickens here for the last 20 years have the odd clear out with a fox but never had a pine martin kill till now , Fox usually leaves a feathered mess all over the place , the pine martin was like a sniper .

Mink will wander up any drain and can range a far bit. The Curlew project I'm working with is trapping alot the last 2 years near roadside ditches/drains. Your best bet is to set-up a trail cam and bait a mink trap as outlined by others. If you get anything else contact the NPWS and let them deal with it.

270WIN

allenview wrote: »

Don't think it is a mink no streams or rivers near me , have chickens here for the last 20 years have the odd clear out with a fox but never had a pine martin kill till now , Fox usually leaves a feathered mess all over the place , the pine martin was like a sniper .

My place is 2 miles from any water source and laying hens, pheasants/partridges have been attacked here every year here..usually around late summer/autumn time.

Benny mcc

Often the pine marten can fit in but can't get the birds out same space. He will come back and feed and try to bring the birds again. I'm haunted with them here. I've a new dog around the pens now so they'll do well to get past her but they mostly come from above.

Grizzly 45

Pine Martin kill.

allenview

I think the pine Martin return last night as I left the dead hens in a bag ,he tore a hole in the bottom of the bag ,dragged out 1chicken and tore out the breasts but left the carcass behind , so I left a mink trap set for the night ,if I catch anything I will let ye know ,I used an egg and some mince beef as bait .

Ju_Ju

allenview wrote: »

Don't think it is a mink no streams or rivers near me , have chickens here for the last 20 years have the odd clear out with a fox but never had a pine martin kill till now , Fox usually leaves a feathered mess all over the place , the pine martin was like a sniper .

If the Allen in your username is Allen in co. Kildare, it could be either mink or marten. The surrounding countryside is full of both.

I'm not too far away from you. My chicken run got fleeced by a marten last year.

IrishHomer

Any updates op?