MINK!!!!

[Odsox]

So that's it ... I give up.

Mind you it just fed my chicken obsession - last year I had 4.....now I have 12

You're right ... my insistence that I would have no more chicken lasted overnight. The next morning I was given 3 sets of garden furniture for free. Well and truly 'shop soiled' but I have been able to make a VERY substantial ark out of 2 teak table tops.
The largest gaps are about 3/4" between the slats of the table top that I'm using as a base, the walls and roof have no gaps, although I shall have to drill some ventilation holes near the top of the apex.
The run section will be clad in 3/4" wire netting when I get some tomorrow.

Just got back from market today with 3 replacement pullets.
At the moment they are languishing in the corner of my garage surrounded by plastic fence mesh watching me work and advising me on what needs doing next.

[Esther.R]

Glad to see I am not alone in my obsession In fact I just did a mental headcount after posting that and realised with my two new serama bantams I now have 14 chickens And that is not including the 4 adult quail and 6 chicks.......

[ina]

Can't you catch the b***s and turn them into a coat?

[Odsox]

They are really nasty creatures and I would have no qualms at all about turning them into coats.

My first encounter with a mink was several years ago when one got hold of my last remaining duck. It had sunk it's teeth into the ducks neck and was trying to drown it in a small pond. The only weapon I had to hand was a pitchfork and I managed to get them both onto dry land where I speared the mink through it's body and pinned it to the ground. It didn't kill it but only made it understandably annoyed. I went to get my air rifle and when I returned less than a minute later it had gone. The pitchfork was still firmly stuck in the ground, so it must have torn it's way to freedom.
The duck died.

[Jobi1canobi]

Slightly off topic I know - I completely understand some peoples need to demonstrate against animal cruelty however, I wish they'd educate themselves about the risks to other animals before releasing non-native species into wild. They might then realise that it's not the most sensible thing to do...and look how many other animals have suffered as a result.

[ina]

Slightly off topic I know - I completely understand some peoples need to demonstrate against animal cruelty however, I wish they'd educate themselves about the risks to other animals before releasing non-native species into wild. They might then realise that it's not the most sensible thing to do...and look how many other animals have suffered as a result.

You are right - this is a self imposed problem (self imposed by mankind).