How to catch a ferret: how to get rid of it

Some forest predators are smart and resourceful enough to find their way even into a protected poultry house, because easy prey awaits them there. There are many ways to catch a ferret in a chicken coop at home without harming the animal. There are also ways to scare away predators from a person’s home and protect the household from losses.

Exterior of a ferret.

Signs of predators

Most often, these sweet creatures behave like rippers in the chicken coop.
They destroy all living chickens, but they can eat no more than one chicken. If you come to the chicken coop in the morning and see that your farm is in no hurry to leave its roost, then this is a sure sign that an uninvited guest has begun to visit you. If appropriate measures are not taken in a timely manner, then one “beautiful” morning you may find all your laying hens dead with their heads separated.

This just indicates that the raids of ferrets, martens, weasels, foxes or minks have begun. By killing domestic chickens, predators are trying to replenish their food supplies and it is worth noting that your chicken coop no longer belongs to you, the predator considers it its own, so rest assured that it will come back again and again. But how do you get rid of a ferret in a chicken coop? How to catch weasel and other predators? It is definitely necessary to fight and get rid of, namely to catch and kill.

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Tip: If your chicken coop is infested with rats and you need to get rid of them, we recommend that you get a ferret. Yes, exactly a ferret. It is guaranteed to rid your area of rodents, but will not harm the chickens. Ferrets and weasels will never become mischievous where they live, but they will even be able to feast on the neighbor’s chickens.

These predators usually hunt:

small rodents;
reptiles;
birds;
reptiles;
fish.

They are unable to digest food of plant origin due to their physiological characteristics, so they are forced to obtain all the necessary vitamins by eating meat.

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How to understand that “thieves” are visiting you

Changes in chicken behavior

Ferrets, martens, and weasels visit poultry houses at night or at dawn. Therefore, it is difficult to catch them at the crime scene.

Predators do not always attack immediately. Often they first reconnoiter the situation. And at first you will not find obvious signs of their presence in the form of dead chickens.

You should be wary if you go into the chicken coop in the morning, and the birds are sitting on a perch or in nests and are not in a hurry to eat. This means that a ferret, marten or weasel definitely visited them at night.

The chickens are scared and worried. And they try to protect themselves and the masonry

And in order not to attract the attention of predators, they do not make a sound

True signs

If you don't take action, you will soon find a chicken with its head chewed off. This is exactly what predators do.

The ferret does not eat the head, only chews it off. But it leaves the carcasses in such a state that they cannot be used later in cooking. The marten prefers to steal chickens rather than eat on the spot.

Broken eggs are also a sign of uninvited guests. If you find that the contents of the testicles have been eaten, and the chickens are fine, most likely small rodents were operating in the poultry house. They are described in detail in the article “How to get rid of rats in a chicken coop.”

To understand who is strangling the chickens, measure the distance between the tracks of the animal: 40-45 cm - ferret, 20 cm - weasel, 30-35 cm - marten.

Animal habits

Neither a ferret nor a weasel will limit itself to one bird. If an animal has strangled a chicken at least once, it will visit the farm until it kills all the chickens, ducks and even geese.

Moreover, predators will remember the place. And if you start a new livestock, they will come again. Therefore, you need to know how to catch a weasel, ferret or marten. And not just drive away.

Animals get into the chicken coop by digging. Then they catch the bird, strangle it, and rip its throat out. The predator eats only one carcass at a time. But it is capable of killing up to two dozen birds.

The animals also travel along mouse and rat passages. And, of course, cracks in the walls, floors, rotten boards are almost an invitation for a weasel, marten or ferret.

Ferret control methods

The ferret is a very interesting and beautiful animal, but if he comes to your chicken coop, try to get rid of him as quickly as possible. There are several ways to combat it.

As a rule, the ferret gnaws the chickens' throats

Heavy coat

You can use a heavy coat. Cover the animal with it, but before doing this, be sure to wear thick gloves so that it does not hurt you. Cage your ferret and get rid of it. It’s not worth killing him, it’s better to take him further into the forest.

Trap

A ferret can be caught using a trap. It should be remembered that he will not approach it if there is a human scent on it. You can get rid of the smell using manure, lime, or boiling it in spruce bark.

For a ferret, it is best to take trap No. 1

Place the trap at the entrance and exit of the tunnel made by the animal. Chicken feathers can serve as bait. The ferret is very curious, so he will not miss this.

DIY traps

You can build a trap with your own hands. Take a bucket and place the dead chicken in it. Surround the bucket with traps. The ferret will approach the bucket, take the chicken and begin to move back. This is where he will fall into a trap. Another effective way. Take a cage or box and place the bait there. Set the trap door so that it closes automatically once the animal gets inside. This way it is very easy to catch a cunning ferret. Do not put poisoned bait in the trap; cats may get in there by mistake and get poisoned.

A metal cage with bait allows you to catch a ferret alive

It is best not to kill a caught ferret and take it further into the forest.

Pets

Pets - dogs and cats - will help get rid of forest pests. Place the dog's kennel near the chicken coop, and the cat can be left overnight in the barn itself with the birds. It is not recommended to lock a dog in a chicken coop; they get very anxious and stressed.

If you lock a cat in a poultry house, it will catch the ferret.

Tar

You can lubricate the walls of the chicken coop with tar

Homemade devices

It is very easy to make a trap yourself. To do this, you need to stock up on a box or cage:

The box is turned over and a stop is placed in it.
Bait is placed inside.
The pest, sensing easy prey, will sneak inside and touch the support.
The box will fall to the ground and the pest will be trapped.

The disadvantage of this invention is that if the farmer does not approach the trap in the near future, the animal will sooner or later get out of it and continue its raids. You need to take the ferret out with the utmost care so that it does not run away or bite. If warm feelings for the pest awaken and you want to release it, then you need to take it as far as possible from the poultry house, otherwise it will come back again.

A cage with a front door has a similar principle of operation. You must first decide where to place the trap. To do this, at night the area near the chicken coop is sprinkled with ash, the ferret will run over it and leave its tracks. On the side where he climbs into the chicken coop, they place a cage. The chicken carcass is hung from one end of the rope, and a door is tied to the other.

When the animal reaches the bait, the door will slam shut. The disadvantage of this type of trap is that the ferret may prefer live chickens over meat.

Signs of predators visiting the chicken coop

There are several signs by which you can guess the visit of an uninvited night guest. At home, it is necessary to fight an illegal visitor to human territory if:

In the morning, chickens are in no hurry to leave their roosts;
the bird behaves nervously and looks scared;
blood was found;
there are dead birds;
characteristic traces of the movement of a predator are visible in the snow.

Bird behavior

After night visits from uninvited guests, laying hens and other inhabitants of the poultry house do not leave the nest or continue to sit on perches located above the ground. Chickens cluck continuously or, conversely, remain silent. When they arrive on the owner’s territory, they don’t run to greet him as usual.

If there are feathers on the floor or blood is visible, this indicates a struggle. In this case, several birds are usually missing from the flock. With such signs, it is also necessary to urgently take action and get rid of the ferret or weasel.

Footprints in the snow

You should be wary if characteristic traces of jumping movements are found near the poultry house, this is how a lover of night hunting “walks.” In this case, you can even determine which of the inhabitants of the forest has come to the territory.

The marten leaves dot prints 30-40 cm wide. The smallest “step” length for the weasel is 20-30 cm.

Fearless poultry robbers

Fur-bearing mammals called ferrets and weasels are common both in our country and in European and American territories. Having noticeable differences in appearance, character and habits, they are a hundred percent predator who knows where to look for prey and how to get there.

The ferret was bred more than 2000 years ago in southern Europe. For a long time, the animal replaced the cat for aristocrats. The miniature furry creature has short legs and an elongated body. The length of an adult male reaches 50 cm, females - 40 cm, and the average length of the tail is 18 cm.

Its color varies from white to dark brown. There is a clearly visible “mask” on the muzzle, and the ears are short. There are albino ferrets called "Furo". Such individuals do not have characteristic black markings on their faces.

Despite their pretty appearance, the animals are real predators. They have fangs and sharp claws, which they use when necessary. If the life of a ferret, weasel or marten is not in danger, then the representative of the wild behaves peacefully, but when he senses an ambush, he becomes quite aggressive.

A ferret, marten or other fur-bearing predator hunts at night.

An effective method is to use traps

Fighting ferrets is quite difficult, because first of all it is necessary to establish that it is he who eats chickens and other birds, and not some other animal. You can remove it from the chicken coop using traps; these devices allow you to catch all the animals and preserve the number of offspring.

However, before using a trap to catch these pests, it is worth preparing it. These animals are highly sensitive to various odors, especially human odors. In order to remove human odor from a trap, you can use the following methods:

lubricate the trap on all sides with manure;
rub this device with dried lizard skin;
using a brush, you can apply a mixture of slaked lime to it;
can be placed in a decoction of pine needles and boil thoroughly.

If you do not follow all the above steps, then foreign odors will scare away the animal, and you will not be able to catch it. After processing the trap, you need to put gloves made of thick material on your hands.

In order to remove ferrets and weasels from the chicken coop, barn and home using traps, be sure to follow the following recommendations:

one trap can be placed directly to the chicks and hens in the coop. But first you should make sure that all the inhabitants are sleeping;
a chicken that was previously strangled by the animal should be hung on a hook, which is located 10-20 centimeters from the floor, and the trap itself must be installed under the carcass;
if a predator, in addition to barns, also visits a residential building, then the bait can be hung directly on the door handle;
the second trap can be installed right near the beginning of the animal’s hole;
Bait is placed next to the trap; to be effective, it can be treated with poison or a tranquilizer.

Important! In the morning after waking up, you must immediately check all traps. If they remained untouched just like the bait, then perhaps the animal did not come

But removing all the traps doesn’t have to go far; it’s better to set them up again at night.

Using repellers

The modern market for protection against various pests offers high-quality repellers that emit low-frequency ultrasonic waves. The predator does not like them and does not allow him to come close to the chicken coop.

There are also ferret repellent devices on the market that emit sound and light signals. As soon as the animal approaches the area, the device will immediately turn on, begin blinking and make sounds. As a result, the ferret will be scared and will not approach the chicken coop. These devices are powered by rechargeable batteries that need to be charged regularly.

What are the signs of a ferret?

It is believed that the beast is capable of destroying an entire chicken coop in one night. However, the ferret will not be able to eat all the birds at once. The mass destruction of birds is due to the presence of a kind of excitement in the predator. He is not able to stop in time even knowing that most of the prey will remain untouched.

Ferrets often kill chickens

The main signs of a ferret appearing on the site are presented in the table.

Chickens won't leave their roosts	Birds are very scared after meeting a predator. Chickens may not leave their roosts even when the owner pours out food. The pets are worried that the enemy has not left yet.
Birds huddle on the highest perches	Even with a clear lack of space, birds do not come down from the upper shelves.
Night calls of birds	At night, the owner is able to hear the loud cry of birds. This indicates that a predator has visited the house.

In the morning, the owner discovers the smothered birds. The nature of the damage is as follows: the blood of the birds has been drunk; paws are chewed off. Measures must be taken urgently. Otherwise, the owner will lose all his chickens. There is no point in replenishing the house until the predator is eliminated.

What kind of prevention

To prevent a ferret from appearing on your property, it is recommended:

strengthen the walls and eliminate all cracks;
when building a poultry house, fill the foundation with cement;
cover the floor of the poultry house with iron;
remove all unnecessary items from the chicken coop, since the animal likes to live in a cluster of boxes and other unnecessary items;
strengthen the door so that it closes tightly;
place the ventilation system at a height of 2 m.

Everything must be done to prevent the ferret from entering the chicken coop.

How to get rid of a ferret in a chicken coop

It is difficult to discourage a ferret from constantly receiving food. The predator will perceive any measures you take to combat it as obstacles and easily overcome them.

remove garbage from the yard (boards, boxes);
repair the chicken coop;
get a dog;
Close all openings into the poultry house firmly at night.

But what to do if preventive measures are ineffective? In this case, there is only one way out - you need to fight the beast in order to protect your livestock. Below we will tell you how to remove a ferret from the chicken coop.

How to catch

Since the animal hunts only at night, catching it will not be easy, but possible.

There are several ways to catch a predator:

use a dog;
set a trap;
catch by hand;
build a live trap.

Using a trap

In order to catch a ferret in a trap, you need to place bait in it: it can be feathers or a chicken previously strangled by the animal. An effective way is not to place the carcass in a trap, but to hang it above the trap, which will disperse the predator. Thus, he will fall into the trap faster. Here it should be said that the trap should not have a human smell. Having smelled it, the predator will not climb into the trap.

There are several methods for eliminating odor:

lubricate the trap with lime;
rub with a solution of boiled spruce;
treat with manure.

Move the trap after wearing thick gloves.

Using live traps

You can also catch a predator using a live trap. To build it yourself, you will need the following materials and tools:

metal grid;
welding machine;
metal fittings;
pin;
spring;
loops;
bait board.

The process for making a trap is as follows:

Using a welding machine, weld a frame for the trap from metal reinforcement.
Install a door and a mechanism that will be activated when a predator stands on the board where the bait is located. This will close the entrance and the animal will remain inside.
Cover the frame with metal mesh on all sides.
The trap is ready, install it in the chicken coop.

How to scare away

If you don’t want to use radical methods in the fight against a ferret, then you can resort to methods of scaring the animal away. Let's take a closer look at them.

Modern technical means

There are modern means of repelling various predators. They can be purchased in specialized stores.

There are two types of repellers:

Light and sound. When a predator approaches the chicken coop, the repeller beeps and starts flashing red, which scares the animal away. This device runs on batteries or mains power.
Ultrasonic. They emit ultrasonic waves that repel not only ferrets, but also mice, rats, and moles. Do not harm pets or humans. They operate using a battery or mains power.

Using Pets

Pets can also deter predators from hunting chickens. If you have a dog, move its kennel closer to the chicken coop. The ideal option would be to place the booth right next to the doors of the poultry house. Of course, not every dog is capable of catching a dexterous animal, but it will be able to notify you of an uninvited night guest by barking.

You can also use a domestic cat, which should be locked in a chicken coop at night, but do not forget that the ferret is a cunning and aggressive animal, so the cat may suffer from its paws. In addition, there is no guarantee that your pet will not want to eat homemade crusts while in close proximity to them.

Traditional methods

One of the popular folk ways to keep a ferret away from the chicken coop is to paint the outside walls of the poultry house with tar. However, this will not help if the house is not on a foundation, since the animal can dig a passage under the floor. You can also hang goat skin on the walls of the chicken coop; its smell will scare off predators.

Or you can set up a simple trap: place a bucket on a support, put bait under it, and as soon as the ferret wants to eat it, he will definitely touch the support and the bucket will cover him.

Help for pets

To catch ferrets in your chicken coops, you can use the help of pets - cats or dogs. You can leave your cat there overnight. But it is worth considering that the ferret is a predatory animal and it can also attack your pet. This could result in his death or he could suffer serious, infected wounds. For this reason, you still shouldn’t risk your pet.

But the dog will be able to cope with these wild animals on its own. The dog can be allowed into the area around the chicken coop. But you shouldn’t lock him in chicken coops with the chickens, this can frighten both the birds and the dog.

Important! If special poisonous baits are used to combat these predators, then be careful. It is best to keep a close eye on your pets after they are spilled, otherwise they may eat it and die.

How to Avoid a Ferret

If there is no need to resort to such drastic measures as installing traps, you can try to protect the poultry house using feasible measures. One of the most important preventive measures to protect a chicken coop from martens and other members of the mustelid family, which includes the ferret, is to concrete the floor. You can also lay a special mesh under the floor and be sure to seal all the holes. The animals are very skilled at digging holes: they can make tunnels even in hard frozen soil, which can be difficult to work with a shovel. The sharp teeth and tenacious claws of the animals cope even with such a difficult task.

The concrete floor will protect the nursery from the penetration of animals through holes

One of the most important protections for a chicken coop from foxes, ferrets and other living creatures is to clear the area: the adjacent area should be cleared of any boxes or haylofts. Animals can hide in a pile of stones or boards, in tall grass and any premises located next to the chicken coop. They especially love places with high humidity levels.

The area around the chicken coop

Traditional methods

Previously, people tried to fight predators from the forest on their own and used improvised means for this:

The walls of chicken coops were smeared with tar; it was believed that this smell should repel small pests, like ferrets. But if an animal comes from a tunnel underground, then the walls coated with tar will not become a hindrance for it. In addition, not every ferret dislikes the smell of tar.
It used to be that goat skin was used to repel ferrets. But this method can rather be attributed to preventive measures. If you hang the skin in a sealed room, it may have an effect.

How to get rid of a ferret?

It is simply necessary to repel the pest from the poultry house. To do this, they use both old-fashioned methods and modern technologies. Most often, to get rid of a furry predator, they use:

tar;
skins;
trap;
trap;
electronic repeller.

Traditional methods

Old-fashioned methods for daring a ferret or weasel include the use of tar. They smeared the outer walls of the poultry house with it. It is believed that the animal cannot stand the smell of this substance. At the same time, they carefully checked the condition of the ventilation in the attic and covered it with a fine grille.

As a natural “drive away” of a hungry predator, lamb, sheep or sheep skins were hung on the walls of the chicken coop. The specific smell of the material was supposed to reliably protect the livestock from overnight guests.

Trap

One of the radical ways to get rid of an insolent ferret is a trap. Having walked around the territory of the poultry house and found holes or tunnels there that the night guest used, you need to stock up on several traps.

In this case, the tools get rid of human odor by boiling in pine water for 25-30 minutes. Then coated with lime. Further, to ensure that the animal does not smell anything, they are additionally treated with manure or chicken droppings.

Traps are placed at the beginning and end of the hole. Having opened the tools, place the bait in the center. You can touch the trap after processing pine needles only with gloves.

DIY trap

For humane ferret or weasel hunters, you can make your own trap. In this case, they take a box that is larger in size than the animal. They lift it and lean it on a stick, which, when the prey gets inside, would fall and slam the box shut. They put bait in the trap: a piece of fresh chicken or fish and wait.

Often farmers make some kind of cage with a door that lowers when an animal gets inside. After which the caught predator is taken far from home and released into the wild.

Modern technologies for repelling pests

For those who do not want to bother with constructing a cage or killing ferrets, weasels and other predatory animals, electronic repellers have been created. The devices emit ultrasound at a certain purity, which is constantly changing and does not allow furry thieves to get used to it and adapt to it.

In addition to poultry, ferrets and martens love to feast on raw eggs. The range of action of such “know-how” is 1.2 thousand square km. Some devices are also equipped with a red beacon, which, like sound, is activated when an animal approaches and stops it. The technique does not affect domestic animals or livestock in any way.

Ferret habits

In order to more successfully fight the enemy, you need to study his habits. Ferrets in this case are no exception; a person must know the characteristics of this predator in order to more effectively combat it. In particular, there are two unusual habits:

The ferret will staunchly defend its territory, and it does not matter at all what kind of enemy invaded it. Having lost its territory, a ferret can quickly say goodbye to life, since it will have nowhere to hunt and hide.
Ferrets have a naturally weak heart. It happens that a predator caught in a trap dies from an excessive release of adrenaline into the blood - its heart simply cannot cope with such a load.

Ferrets at home: pros and cons

Of course, if you have such a pet, you won’t have to be sad or bored. Not for a minute. The ferret will constantly prove to you through his actions that he really needs tenderness, love and affection. Loneliness does not threaten you. And depression too. It is enough to see the face of a well-fed and snoring pet, curled up in a ball on your bed.

However, it is also impossible not to mention the disadvantages of having a ferret at home.

According to statistics, only 30% of owners of such pets do not regret the decision to get an animal. The remaining 70 are not particularly happy and are wondering how to get rid of such “happiness”, which regularly spoils surrounding objects, marks your territory, destroys house plants and chases away your pet cat.

Another nuance is added: if animals do not have the opportunity to procreate, this has a bad effect on their health and character. And castration or sterilization cannot completely solve this issue. After the manipulations, metabolic disruptions occur, and the animal begins to gain weight due to obesity or lose hair from exhaustion.

Ferrets are not nearly as cuddly and gentle as they are in videos and photographs on the Internet. This is a predatory animal with sharp teeth and tenacious claws. It is vindictive and at the slightest offense it can injure you at the moment when you have already lost your vigilance. Animals are especially aggressive at night, when the owners of the animals are already asleep. This is why zoologists do not recommend staying alone with a ferret at night. As the owner and chief in your symbiosis, you will have to put him in his place in time so that proximity to this petty but dangerous tyrant does not turn your life into hell.

These pets don't like mess. Scattered objects and things will be stolen, damaged or marked in such a way that no washing powder can get rid of the smell.

Domestic ferrets do not disdain cigarette butts, alcoholic drinks, chips, crackers, Coca-Cola, cosmetics and even household chemicals - and all this does not add to the health of the animal. Reluctantly, you can cause the death of the beast, because he himself is very impetuous.

Walking your ferret is challenging even with the right accessories: you'll constantly have to teach him manners by pulling him out of the nearest trash can he's jumped into. Rarely, there are exceptions to the unpleasant rules, when ferrets are charming angels. But it’s worth being mentally and physically prepared for the typical behavior and bouquet of negative traits of the beast, rather than being disappointed later and looking for something to do with this monster.

What do steppe ferrets eat?

Like all mustelids, the steppe polecat is a typical predator.
He hunts for hamsters, gophers, small rodents. Enjoys eating frogs, poisonous snakes and birds. In the summer, steppe horis can hunt invertebrate animals: beetles, dragonflies, worms, spiders. Those steppe creatures that live near water bodies have become accustomed to catching aquatic animals, for example, river voles. Like all other ferrets, these creatures cause considerable harm to poultry farming. It is worth noting that such a reputation often spoils the lives of the animals themselves, since sometimes they are accused of something they did not do at all. This happens because steppe ferrets can be substituted by their relatives - weasels and martens. Outside populated areas, these creatures bring great benefits by exterminating rodents.

How to rid ferrets of parasites

Since any animal can be infected with fleas, including cats and dogs, all animals should be examined by a veterinarian and treated appropriately. The easiest way to get rid of pests is to regularly bathe the animal, you can wash its fur with shampoo, the main thing is not to overdo it. But if your pet has had parasites for a long time, then this method will be ineffective.

There are no special products to control fleas in ferrets. Alternatives include flea treatments for cats and dogs, sprays or drops, but only use those recommended by your veterinarian. A good and effective drug against fleas in ferrets is Advantage for cats.

If the apartment or house has high humidity and is always very warm, then the parasites can live up to 30 days, and if the indicators are low, then the insects will be uncomfortable. Frequent cleaning and ventilation of the room are necessary until the parasites finally leave the house. If there are other animals in the apartment, then they should also be treated with special means. Frontline flea control product is good for cats.

If the medication is licked, temporary hypersalivation may occur. To avoid the problem, you need to talk to a veterinarian who can suggest effective ways to solve it.

There are products that are not recommended for ferrets. Do not use flea collars, do not use phosphates, permethrin spray or other substances containing permethrin.

Ferret habitat

The ferret is a predator. It settles almost everywhere, but prefers to live on the edges of the forest, so that there is a body of water nearby. Ferrets live in burrows that they make themselves, or they occupy burrows made by other animals and abandoned by them.

The ferret is difficult to find in dense forests; the animal does not like too dense forests. Animals prefer small forests or groves located near human habitation. The ferret does not like to wander from place to place. This is what distinguishes males: each of them has its own strictly defined territory and it is extremely undesirable for them to appear in a foreign area. Females are more loyal in this regard: they can live anywhere and not feel much discomfort. A male can walk about 5 km per night - this suggests that their hunting grounds are very extensive.

Ferrets' burrows are not very deep, usually there is one tunnel and a nesting site at the end. Ferrets can make their shelters in abandoned burrows of badgers and foxes. Sometimes a ferret settles right next to a person. Here he will probably have a nest in some barn, but in a secluded place. Usually, forest ferrets climb into barns, because steppe ferrets try to avoid human habitation.

The steppe ferret lives almost in open areas. In terms of area of settlement, the steppe ferret surpasses any other steppe animal. In the steppes, ferrets make abandoned gopher burrows for themselves. Such a hole can save the animal from both the summer heat and the winter cold. There is no way to live without a hole in the steppe: you can easily become the prey of another, larger predator. Steppe ferrets do not have a strictly defined territory.

How to get rid of a predator?

How to catch a ferret in a chicken coop? How to get rid of affection? The fox in the hen house is an equally important problem. We will now try to answer these questions.

The ferret is a very smart, cunning and cautious animal, so you will need to carefully prepare and make every effort to hunt a ferret.

It is worth noting that it is much easier to prevent his raids on your personal territory. To do this, it is necessary to build a chicken coop on a pile foundation.
We recommend fencing nearby areas with a net, having previously dug it into the ground at least 60 - 70 centimeters.
It would also not be superfluous to cover the walls of the chicken coop with sheets of iron.

If the animal has already paved a path to your land, then more radical measures should be taken.

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Installation of traps

Most often, unusually placed traps attract the attention of martens, ferrets and weasels, so they overcome them without much effort. We strongly recommend that you attract the predator's attention

To do this, you can scatter bird feathers in a trap, then the animal will show curiosity and you will be able to catch it.

Of course, the most successful method will be to use dead chicken carcasses as bait. For example, you lay out the carcasses and build a trap around it, placing traps around it. On the way to the delicacies, the predator will safely overcome all obstacles, but, having grabbed the prey, it will begin to back away.

When setting traps, it is necessary to have gloves on your hands, and it is better, in general, to soak the trap in manure or spruce decoction before hunting to rid the trap of human smell.

This hunting method has a drawback and it lies in the fact that the predator, like a spy, never follows one route, so it is impossible to guess its path

Pets

Most predators are very susceptible to various kinds of odors, so it makes sense to place a dog house next to the chicken coop. It is unlikely that a dog's hunt for an animal will be successful, but what will scare it off is 100%.

For the same purpose, in the attic where chickens live, you can hang goat skins, which have a very specific smell that will signal danger to the animal.

DIY traps

There are a large number of ideas that you can implement yourself using your hands. For hunting, we need a box or bucket, under which we place a stop and put the bait inside. Having shown interest in the bait, the animal heads to the epicenter of events, knocks down the stop and finds itself in a trap. But it is worth noting that this method is not always effective. It is quite possible that the animal will be more interested in the chickens than in the bait. And also, your presence nearby is mandatory, because if you do not arrive in time, the beast, fighting for its life, will be freed.

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Who strangles chickens at night: what predators hunt birds?

Frequent guests in the chicken coop are:

These are cautious animals and are rarely seen by humans. This is why it is so difficult to find out who is strangling the chickens in the chicken coop at night. After visiting them, they usually see the following picture: feathers scattered around the area and poultry house, half-eaten chicken carcasses from which the blood has been drained.

On a note! Animals visit farms most often in the autumn-winter period, when it becomes more difficult to find food in the forest. Predators often settle near human habitation.

Sometimes weasels and martens are beneficial. They, like domestic cats, hunt rats and mice, which often live in the chicken coop. Rodents steal eggs, choke chickens and carry diseases dangerous to birds and humans.

Rats in the chicken coop

Signs of a weasel and ferret

Ferrets and weasels are dangerous animals; they kill all the animals in the barn by strangulation, and take only one with them. If they start eating in the chicken coop, it means they won’t leave until the food runs out. If you get hens again, predators will quickly deal with them, since they consider the chicken coop their source of food.

Signs of a predator visiting a poultry house:

Concerns about chickens.
Ruffled feathers.
Chickens are in no hurry to leave the coop.
The appearance of dead chicken carcasses with their heads chewed off and blood sucked out.

This behavior pattern is typical for weasels and ferrets. To get rid of the pest, you will need to catch it and destroy it. Otherwise, you can lose all the chickens, and subsequently the geese and rabbits.

How to Protect Chickens from Ferrets and Weasels

The weasel kills chickens quietly, so it is difficult to catch it in the act. It is much easier to prevent its occurrence.

Mechanical prevention of the appearance of predators and pests can be carried out:

Do not leave food in the feeder for a long time.
Do not store grain reserves in the chicken coop.
Raise nests off the ground.
Seal cracks and holes in the walls and foundation with cement mortar.
Dig sheet metal or fine mesh around the chicken coop.

Farmers recommend against using traps due to the high risk of injury to chickens. However, in cases where this cannot be refused, you need to think about their location so as not to catch the hen.

Setting traps: how martens steal and kill chickens

As a rule, ferrets, weasels and martens avoid traps, so it is necessary to interest the animals. Bird feathers can be scattered in and around the trap. The predator will show curiosity and can be caught.

How to install a trap:

It is best to use a dead animal as bait. Traps are placed on the way to it.
You cannot handle the trap with bare hands; you must use gloves.
To rid the trap of human odor, lubricate it with manure or soak it in spruce decoction for 2–3 hours.

The difficulty with this method is that the animals never walk the same route twice. It is almost impossible to predict the direction of movement, so catching a weasel or marten will be difficult.

Pets

The natural enemies of martens, ferrets, and weasels are dogs and cats. Not all, some animals do not know how to catch and are even afraid of wild animals. Therefore, it is better to have several cats and dogs.

Domestic predators will help get rid of pests, but there is always a risk that they will start stealing eggs and crushing chickens. Certain breeds of dogs can catch furry predators, but they need to be trained to do so. Animals will quickly help you find out who is stealing chickens and hens.

These breeds include:

To prevent wild animals from approaching the utility block, you should install a doghouse next to it. This will help not only scare away the predator, but also catch it if it dares to come closer.

Advice! Some farmers recommend leaving a light on in the poultry house at night, you can even turn on the radio. This will create the effect of presence, so wild animals will be afraid to come close.

Repellers

Ultrasonic equipment is one of the most progressive and humane ways to repel predators and rodents. The principle of its operation is the targeted irritation of the animal’s sense organs. This sound causes them anxiety, fear and discomfort.

Ultrasound against pests

Ultrasound also scares moles and mice. If chickens are kept in the same room as rabbits, it is better to refrain from using the device.

When purchasing an ultrasonic repeller, you need to pay attention to the range of action; it should be enough for at least the perimeter of the chicken coop. The most popular models are: Electric Kot, Clean House, Grad-A and Pest Reject

How to Avoid a Ferret

The ferret is a very smart, cunning and inventive animal. Adult, experienced individuals do not easily fall into traps and snares, ignoring all the tricks of people. It is much easier to take care in advance so that the ferret does not want to “visit” the birds. To do this, you need to strengthen the chicken coop:

carefully seal all cracks and crevices;
cover the floor with tin plates;
replace rotten boards with new ones;
dig a fine metal mesh around the perimeter at least 50 cm deep;
coat the walls with tar or hang goat skins to scare away ferrets with the smell;
Put a secure lock on the door and lock it at night.

When building a chicken coop, you should take into account in advance the possibility that a ferret will try to get into it. You can avoid such a “visit” if you make the base of the building concrete. In this case, the ferret simply will not be able to dig a tunnel and will go to seek his fortune elsewhere.

It is also advisable to tidy up the area around the chicken coop so that the ferret cannot hide in the rubble of boards, branches, boxes and other objects suitable for hiding. If the animal nevertheless made its way to the birds and destroyed several of them, then the life of the birds must be carefully monitored for the next 2-3 weeks. During the day you need to keep them in pens, and at night hide them in a well-closed barn. If the ferret fails to profit from anything several times in a row, he will lose interest in the “inhospitable” yard.

Ferrets act on instinct and are not aware of the harm they cause to people. And in this situation, you should carefully consider where it is more correct to put a comma in the phrase “execute cannot be pardoned.”

Preventive measures

Following important preventative measures will help keep these predators out of your area. The basic rules include the following:

in the chicken coop it is better to make a base from a concrete covering. The predator will not be able to dig a loophole to it;
All cracks, holes, and cracks must be well covered. It is through them that the animal can quickly enter the barn;
the floor surface can be covered with tin. Even if the animal digs a hole, it will not be able to penetrate the tin;
if the chicken coop is old, then you can make a fence around it from a fine mesh, it should be dug up to 50 centimeters.

These measures will help prevent the loss of poultry. The main thing is to do everything correctly and better when building a chicken coop. After all, if it is well protected inside and out, it will ensure high security for the household.

Symptoms of flea infestation in ferrets

Ectoparasites appear in ferrets of any gender and age. They bite through the skin, using blood for nutrition and activation of reproduction. Depending on the sensitivity of the animal’s skin to painful bites, it may experience:

Itching. The main, most pronounced symptom, manifested in varying degrees of intensity, which depends on the number of fleas on one animal. The pet begins to lick itself, bite, scratch and chew its fur.
Formation of papules. At the sites of parasite bites, formations appear, scratching of which leads to the formation of scabs.
Baldness. When there are a large number of insects, the animal experiences hair loss in areas of varying sizes.
Increased emotionality and irritability. If a ferret has fleas in its fur, it becomes restless and overexcited.

The diagnosis is established not only by visual examination and taking into account symptoms; to confirm it, a scraping is taken from the affected areas of the skin, examination of which confirms infection with bloodsuckers

Visual inspection helps to identify fleas; special attention should be paid to the areas between the shoulder blades, where parasites most often accumulate in thick fur.

Types of traps

A trap is a device for catching animals, and it can firmly catch a weasel. But it’s worth understanding what traps exist and how to use them. The device itself consists of a spring and plates that catch the animal, pinching its paws or neck - it all depends on the curiosity of the animal. To prevent the animal from running away with the trap, it must be well attached.

There are two types of traps:

To catch weasel, you should use the second type of trap, since plate traps are designed for catching large animals. But don’t be surprised if the animal runs away; it can chew the canvas that serves as the base.

How to get rid of a ferret in a chicken coop

Almost every poultry owner has had to find all their birds dead one fine morning. Their heads could be torn off, their paws chewed, their blood drunk - all this is the handwriting of a ferret.

The outwardly beautiful animal poses a huge danger to geese, chickens, and ducks: the ferret will not calm down until it destroys all the birds.

Therefore, after the first victim, it is necessary to take all possible measures in order to avoid further tragedies.

At the crime scene

The ferret goes fishing under the cover of darkness. At this time of day you can watch for a pest. But how to catch a ferret without getting hurt yourself? There are two ways:

Place a heavy coat or raincoat over the animal. Press down the ferret a little, wrap it up and place it in the cage.
Wear very thick gloves and handle the pest with your hands. If the animal still manages to bite the “hunter,” then you should pinch the ferret’s nose and insert a piece of wood between the teeth.

The life of a caught pest can be disposed of at your discretion. The humane option is to take the ferret away from residential buildings and leave it in nature. A less humane way to end an animal's life is to kill it.

Trap: reliable and deadly

At the first sign that a ferret is visiting the yard, hunting traps should be set. Since the pest is very cautious, the trap must be rid of human odor in one of the following ways:

smear with manure;
boil in spruce needles;
cover with slaked lime.

After processing the trap, you can only handle it with cloth gloves. If the ferret has already managed to dig passages around the chicken coop, then the trap should be placed directly at the beginning and end of the tunnel. You can use bird feathers as bait: a curious animal will definitely want to take a closer look at them.

A good way to kill a ferret involves placing a dead chicken in a bucket and setting traps around it. On the way to the bucket, the pest will bypass the traps, but when it takes the chicken in its teeth, it will begin to back away and will definitely get caught. As an option, you can hang a dead bird over a trap: the ferret will be so carried away by getting bait that he will forget about the danger.

Owners of cats and dogs should be extremely careful with traps. Pets can easily become innocent victims in a “foreign war.”

Homemade trap

You will need a regular cage, box or bucket. You need to put bait there, preferably a piece of meat. The trap door must be set so that when an animal gets inside, it automatically slams shut. When the ferret is caught, the trap can be taken away from the house.

You should not experiment with poisoned bait if there are pets, especially cats, in the yard. They are almost 100% likely to want to check what kind of tidbit is hidden inside the trap.

Four-legged hunters

Pets scare away ferrets. You need to place a dog house near the chicken coop or put the dog on a long chain so that he can move freely around the yard. The cat should be “sent” directly into the chicken coop itself.

It is better not to send dogs “on a business trip” to the chickens. Being locked in a chicken coop causes dogs to become stressed and overly anxious.

Ferret danger

It is precisely in the fact that the destruction of birds is usually massive that the main danger of the ferret lies. Even if he doesn’t destroy everyone at once, he will return to his beloved barn again. If something frightens him one night, he will still come the next night. A small hole is enough for a ferret to get inside. The peculiarity of the skeleton is such that if the head penetrates, the ferret will crawl through completely.

Even rats are not as dangerous as ferrets. There are cases when there were aggressive roosters among the birds and they could destroy the predator themselves, but such situations are very rare.

Important! The ferret attacks aggressively, in one leap. He strangles the victim with his paws, and then begins to suck the blood.

The greatest danger is that if the ferret is not caught, he will never forget the way to the hen house.

How to catch a ferret in a chicken coop

At the crime scene

The ferret goes fishing under the cover of darkness. At this time of day you can watch for a pest. But how to catch a ferret without getting hurt yourself? There are two ways:

Place a heavy coat or raincoat over the animal. Press down the ferret a little, wrap it up and place it in the cage.
Wear very thick gloves and handle the pest with your hands. If the animal still manages to bite the “hunter,” then you should pinch the ferret’s nose and insert a piece of wood between the teeth.

Trap: reliable and deadly

At the first sign that a ferret is visiting the yard, hunting traps should be set. Since the pest is very cautious, the trap must be rid of human odor in one of the following ways:

smear with manure;
boil in spruce needles;
cover with slaked lime.

Owners of cats and dogs should be extremely careful with traps. Pets can easily become innocent victims in a “foreign war.”

Homemade trap

You should not experiment with poisoned bait if there are pets, especially cats, in the yard. They are almost 100% likely to want to check what kind of tidbit is hidden inside the trap.

Four-legged hunters

It is better not to send dogs “on a business trip” to the chickens. Being locked in a chicken coop causes dogs to become stressed and overly anxious.

Is it possible to catch and tame an animal?

Some daredevils catch night guests with their hands. To do this, they keep watch in the chicken coop, after putting on thick mittens and stocking up on an old thick coat. Hearing the beast, they throw the cloth they grabbed onto it and grab it. In this case, you should be careful and protect your eyes and face.

In order not to miss the animal and not to scare it away, a loud object, for example, a bucket, is placed on a support on one side, and something edible is placed under it. When a predator runs there, the trap will slam shut and make a characteristic loud sound, which will additionally notify that it has been caught.

Experts note that you can make friends with an animal. If the individual is young, then they try to tame it. In this case, the owner of the chicken coop will receive an excellent guard for his territory. The beast will think that the area belongs to him and will not touch anyone in this area. It will also help get rid of rats and mice that attack poultry houses in the warm season.

Large dogs or cats are also used to protect the territory from night visitors. Having tied the dog near the poultry house, you don’t have to worry about the safety of the birds, since ferrets and other wild animals are afraid of large four-legged animals and do not like their smell.

How to get rid of a ferret: protecting birds from the “killer”

Often, when visiting their farm, owners may encounter an empty room where chickens were sitting just yesterday. The picture can be supplemented with severed paws, heads, and sucked blood. All these are the tricks of the emerging ferrets. The appearance of the animal seems cute, but in fact it is a very dangerous predator for birds.

As soon as the first signs of the appearance of such an animal are noticed, it is necessary to think about protecting your possessions so that the livestock survives. Ferret-proofing your chicken coop is not as difficult as it seems. These can be homemade traps, hunting traps and much more at the discretion of the owner.

Ideal conditions for night hunting

Natural poultry lovers often visit chicken coops in the winter, especially if the human property borders forest or dense planting. In this case, the smell of the poultry house and fresh prey attracts the animal irresistibly.

Once in the chicken coop, the ferret kills the chickens, stocking up. Knowing about his habits, it is easy to guess that after a couple of night visits there will be nothing left of the feathered population. The predator can make the first attack without victims, only for reconnaissance, but on the second visit there will be a massacre in the chicken coop.

Common Strangler Predators

In order to effectively combat such invasions, it is necessary to know the behavioral characteristics of these animals.

Weasel

A weasel can get into the chicken coop through any opening: ventilation, through rotten boards, and the animal can also make a tunnel.

The animal has very sharp teeth and claws; it kills birds with particular cruelty: it strangles them with lightning speed, then tears them into pieces, bites off the head and eats them.

Marten

The marten also enters the chickens’ home through holes and various openings: holes and cracks in the foundation, ventilation, rotten boards, etc.

The marten is very nimble and active, hunting mainly in the dark. She strangles her victims, gnaws off the throat, drinks the blood and eats the carcass.

Ferret

Ferrets enter the house through a tunnel. A sign that a ferret is visiting a chicken house is the presence of a characteristic pit near the walls of the room.

A predator strangles chickens. Acting on instincts, he is capable of strangling a huge number of birds in one visit, while eating only 1-2.

The fact is that the ferret is only interested in the chicken as prey while it runs away and resists. Having killed her, the predator loses interest in her and begins to search for a new victim.

Has a ferret ever attacked your chickens?

Not really

Fox

Foxes enter chicken coops through ventilation, push aside rotten boards, and break through manholes. The animal hunts poultry mainly in winter, when it lacks food. It is active late at night or early in the morning, when the likelihood of meeting a person is extremely low. The fox kills and eats 1-2 chickens and strangles the rest. She takes the killed chickens with her, and can return for prey several times.

Weasel in the chicken coop: how to protect chickens and what ways can you get rid of the cute predator? Read

How to prevent a ferret from robbing you? We protect the chicken coop from predators using traps, cats and traps Read more

How to get rid of a rat infestation in a chicken coop? Modern and folk measures to combat dangerous rodents View

Ways to protect chickens and chicken coops from foxes. We set traps and traps, get dogs, use repellents Next

What baits are there?

In order to feed it poison, the rat must be attracted. And the more tempting the bait is, the faster the rats will eat it. We have already noticed that these are very smart and careful animals. Therefore, before you give them bait with poison, you need to let them get used to it and understand that the treat is safe. To do this, feed the rats for several days without adding chemicals. And only by lulling their vigilance can toxic substances be added.

Various types of baits

Some products already include ingredients that are attractive to rats: grain, flour or sugar. Some are supplemented with flavorings: cheese, meat, vanilla. Others should be used as a supplement to foods. To do this, they use treats that are attractive to rodents, such as:

bread crumbs soaked in unrefined sunflower oil;
boiled porridge;
minced meat (with onions);
corn;
cheese;
crumbled eggs;
smoked lard;
roasted sunflower seeds;
dry cat or dog food.

Minced meat with poison

How to protect a bird from eating poison

You can’t explain to the legal inhabitants of the chicken coop that baits and poisons are for rodents only

To protect birds from poisoning, the following precautions must be observed when working with chemicals:

Temporarily transfer the birds to another location.
Place baits with chemicals in special traps that chickens and chickens will not get into, for example, boxes with several entrance holes on the sides.
Constantly remove rodent carcasses.
Place poisons (2-3 grams of mixture per hole) deep into rat holes, sprinkle with earth.
Use a granular product to avoid spraying it throughout the coop.
Do not spill chicken feed near scattered baits.
If possible, place a house for chickens to spend the night outdoors (on legs).

Chicken coop on legs

What you need to know about the predator

The ferret belongs to the mustelidae family. The closest “relative” is the weasel. There are two species in Russia - steppe and forest. They should not be confused with the ferret, a domestic ferret. The behavior and appearance of wild species are similar. They are characterized by the following features and characteristics:

Long body. In the steppe - about half a meter, in the forest - 29–48 cm. Animals weigh up to 2 kg.
Small paws with five fingers and long claws.
Oval head. There is a characteristic “mask” - a pattern on the face. Long neck.
Large fluffy tail up to 18 cm long.
The wool is of different shades of brown - from light to almost black.
Ferrets are not rodents. In biology they are classified as predators. Small rodents such as mice and voles are the main food of ferrets.
Aggressiveness. They are often not afraid of humans and do not retreat from larger and stronger animals.
Restlessness, speed, agility, intelligence.
Animals can swim and dig. Thanks to the flexible spine, they suddenly “seep” into the smallest cracks.
Courage bordering on recklessness. In the excitement of the hunt, animals often forget about safety.
Bloodthirstiness. It is not enough for these predators to simply satisfy their hunger by eating 1-2 chickens. It is not uncommon for a ferret to kill 10–15 animals in one go. Such a visit is a real “cleansing”. No one is left alive; even larger rabbits or geese die.
Ferrets prefer to hunt chickens.
Many are sure that the animal kills with its smell. It releases a suffocating stream - and everything around dies. This is wrong. Indeed, animals have a specific smell that appears during the mating season. In addition, the anal glands secrete a special, foul-smelling secretion to repel the enemy. This is the same jet. However, it is, by and large, not scary for chickens and other small animals.
They operate in the dark. Cunning and inventive.

Ferrets have a rare sense of purpose. They will not rest until they have destroyed all the livestock in their weight category. These are the real lone killers of the animal world.

What does a ferret look like?

There are several varieties of this mammal, but they all have common features.

The body is elongated and squat with short muscular legs.
The fingers have long and sharp claws.
The head is a neat oval shape on a long and flexible neck.
A fluffy tail is a source of pride for an animal.
Thick and soft fur, shiny in the sun, can be of different colors.
The teeth are sharp and strong.

According to all these characteristics, the ferret is an attractive fluffy animal with the incredible ability to move quickly by jumping, deftly climb trees, swim wonderfully and bite well.

How to identify a pest

All representatives of mustelids are forest dwellers, so their main source of food is small rodents. Animals are unpretentious in food, so they are not averse to feasting on poultry. It is almost impossible to catch a predator at the scene of a crime, however, its presence can be determined by the wary behavior of chickens. If the birds are in no hurry to leave their roosts in the morning, this is a sure sign that a night guest has visited the chicken coop.

Despite the caution of the animals, they certainly leave traces that can tell who exactly was trying to ruin the household. Representatives of the mustelid family move by jumping, so the distance between the tracks will help indicate the pest:

ferret -50-60 cm;
marten - 30-40 cm;
weasel - 20-30 cm.

Having determined the type of animal causing damage to the farm, it will be much easier to choose ways to catch and destroy it.

How to make a trap yourself?

If there is a predator on the farm, then the most realistic way is to make a trap yourself at home. No special devices or tools are required for this. To catch an animal, you need a bucket, box or other container. It should be placed on its side and supported. You need to put bait inside, which will ensure the capture of the criminal. An interested animal will fall for the bait in any case. The advantage of the method is that you will not need to fight the animal yourself

But you should take into account: such a trap is dangerous for pets, so you should not poison the left bait, so as not to attract the unnecessary attention of cats and dogs

As you can see, you can get rid of martens, ferrets, and weasels even with simple folk remedies. But be prepared for the fact that the fight may drag on for more than one week, because catching a predator is not easy. Choose the method you like and take decisive action, because not only stolen eggs are at stake, but also the lives of poultry. Be attentive to the condition of the walls and roof of the coop to prevent weasels or martens from entering. Ferrets, weasels and unprotected chickens should never be allowed near, and it is the farmer's job to make the best of this.

Materials taken from the source: villaved.ru