Mustelids
Weasels, minks, ferrets, fishers and martens are just a few among the small carnivorous mammals considered part of the mustelid family, commonly called the weasel family. If you’ve never seen the damage they can do to a flock of chickens, you would almost think they were cute. Animals in the mustelid family tend to smell rather pungent as well; their powerful anal scent glands release a persuasive repellent odor. These little carnivores are nosy by nature, very active and constantly moving around on the hunt for prey.
As with other predators, whether or not your flock is vulnerable to these carnivores depends on your location. Most of the hunters in this animal family are rather small, so chickens are not usually their first prey of choice. Because of their svelte frames, these little guys can squeeze themselves through surprisingly small holes (about the size of a quarter) in wire mesh and openings in the coop, and they can dig under enclosure walls or climb fences. Mustelid hunters are a good incentive to keep your coop clean. They’ll likely be attracted by rodents and decide to stick around to make a second meal of your flock.
CALLING CARD
Unlike other predators who kill or take one bird at a time, animals in the weasel family tend to kill or injure several birds during one attack. They also prefer to suck the blood of the prey animal, rather than consume large amounts of flesh. Consider that a mustelid mammal may be the culprit if you see some of the following after an attack: Chickens killed and collected in small piles (weasel, mink). Bites on the back of the head and neck (weasel). Only the head or neck eaten or bitten off (weasel, mink). Bites around the vent and/or intestines removed or visible (fisher, marten). Bodies tucked away to return to later (fisher, marten). Small birds, such as chicks and bantams, entirely missing (mink). Lingering odor (all mustelids).
YOUR FLOCK’S DEFENSES
Secure small openings and weak points, and keep a tidy coop and storage area. Stop weasels at their point of entry by securing corners and gaps that are larger than a quarter in size. Use hardware cloth with ½-inch openings to line windows and as fencing in the run. Store feed in predator-safe containers, and keep the coop clean to reduce or eliminate any rodents, thereby not attracting any mustelids. Many of the mustelids are cautious around humans, so they’ll keep their distance where there is noise and light. Lock up your flock nightly; these predators are most likely to attack after dark.