Hen Killing Stoat - Best bait for traps?

[lambic]

Will keep traps running for next two weeks at least. Will run quite a lot from now on with eggs, chicken thighs, etc

Feel very guilty about adding a pair of Silkies to the flock. They are not nasty and large enough to make it. Guess we all learn from our mistakes.

Have the say the hens enjoyed the fresh stoat tartar, however the stoat was a smelly little beast.

 

[lambic]

A final question gents ...

Same time last year neighbours 100m away lost 6 hens to neck bites. Few days later, other neighbours 1000m away lost 5 hens.

Do you think this could be the same animal doing all the locations ? Is 1100m too far for a single animal range?

 

[enfieldspares]

I'll answer it this way.

If your local Tesco One Stop is closed what do you do? Not eat or make the journey to the 24 Hour Asda two or three miles away?

To a stoat 1000m isn't far at all...if needs must.

 

[rem284]

I would say best to keep traps going 24/7. I prefer Fenn Mk4's in tunnel of course set at strategic points to prevent vermin getting as close. If you set them in good places you will catch them time and time again.

 

[bruce w]

you say you disposed of the stoat, try leaving the dead stoat in the trap next time ,thats a cage trap

 

[lambic]

What kind of tunnel would I need to make for Fenns? Good simple design...

 

[Woodsmoke]

What kind of tunnel would I need to make for Fenns?

Just anything that will allow the trap to spring, but will prevent the entry of on-target species. I use plywood to make an open-bottomed tunnel about 2' long. The ends are partially-closed to stop anything larger than a rat, etc from getting in

 

[rem284]

They love to dart into holes etc. I used to use two small clay drain pipes as the hole bits. In the middle was the trap section which was usually some bricks and a pan tile lid. The whole lot was then made to look natural to prevent people from interfering. Best places are often a gateway in a wall, they will follow the wall then dart across and into the hole for cover. Its like most things it would be a lot easier to show you than describe, there might be some tips on youtube

 

[lambic]

Thanks will look into it. Think I have PVC drain pipe offcuts around somewhere.

 

[enfieldspares]

Good Luck. Basically it'll look like an anaconda that's eaten a square box. So pipe, then the chamber or box that contains the trap, then pipe. Cover with earth and leave the lift off lid of the box uncovered so you can lift it off. You don't need to actually make a wood box. Loose bricks or logs or whatever have you can make the chamber with a gap to take the pipe tunnel. Slates or tiles even on edge dug in to stand them up.

 

[tony rentokil]

Or get those brown plastic window boxes you see at garden centers then just cut 2 hole either end,,,,

 

[enfieldspares]

Lambic...please up date us all if you've any further success with your trapping?

 

[lambic]

Hello Gents. No further issues since I caught the stoat 6 days ago. However, turns out my neighbour farmer has 30 Fenn traps he runs every summer. So looks like I will be part of his programme in the future. He is trying to build up his pheasant numbers in the wood next door.

Seems to be a endless line of predators this year after chickens - definitely related to low rabbit numbers compared to last year. Cats, stoats, buzzards, pine martins etc. Buzzards hanging around now after the pheasants and wood pigeons .....

 

[lambic]

Well 1 month down the line no more chicken casualties. So some success for a complete novice.

Neighbour farmer got a stoat and a mink three weeks ago. First mink he has trapped in 5 years he said. Hoping there are not any more.

Would you be able to tell the difference easily between a stoat, mink and pine marten attack on hens?

Cheers

 

[landkeeper]

regarding the marten vrs mink ,yes in my experience the marten just bites every bird where the neck joins the body neat and tidy very little mess or fuss and its normally a nocturnal affair , wheras the mink is a bit more of a messy killer

 

[lambic]

So a stoat and pine marten attack would be hard to tell apart from injury point view?

Do stoats attack at night? All the stoat attacks in our area were around 1400 in the afternoon.

 

[levigsp]

Stoats like all the weasel family are active day and night, they hunt, kill, eat and then sleep and repeat the whole process again.
They will and often do hunt during every hour of the day and night.

 

[lambic]

Like the Terminator

 

[jimbo123p]

Bit late catching up with this thread but bait with rabbit guts. Very effective. Are a keeper I run a big line of traps. Main bait was guts. Very effective and easy to keep dropping in fresh during the rabbiting season.

 

[lambic]

Sounds good use for them. Will remember that once their numbers hopefully rebound