I have him on camera. Bastard Mink. It is not much of a shot but I think there are two of them.
If you flip back and forth you will see them. They literally ate a hole in the door. And killed two more chooks.
So after I had milked the cow, fed the animals, done the baking and made the custard for the ice-cream, put a pound of butter in the freezer and thanked the farmer for planting 8 rows of sunflowers for this years feed. Watered the pots, let the big animals into the fields and filled the water troughs:
I ignored everything else and set to work to finish The Tank myself.
It did take hours and I admit freely to not being very good when working with wire but I had a lot of help from my sleepy support team. Yesterday I abandoned the chook house altogether. No more chickens in there now. Earlier than planned but enough is enough. 
Later in the afternoon I called the nice man at the pub and asked him if he could make John’s dinner for me, and throw in a few extra pieces of chicken for the traps.
While I waited for the birds to go to bed so I could catch them, we did some fencing. I think Marcel is getting a bit too big to play the Boo games anymore. 
Then I milked the cow, cleaned up, dragged out every box and cage I had and set to work; catching every single chicken. There are two cages of birds on the verandah and The Tank is full. I will repair the next chicken tractor tomorrow for the caged birds.
We will keep loading the traps until we trap them, there is nothing else to do.
But for the meantime the chickens are in the front yard where they are well within the territory of the dogs. In fact they are only a few feet from the verandah where the dogs lie.
Last night I slept.
Oh and Daisy’s milk is still healthy. No problems there for the moment. Wonderful.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farm
celi
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
66 responses to “My enemy”
In Denmark, we wear them.
have you called the local wildlife authority to see what they suggest? when i had raccoon problems, they trapped them and carted them away but i live in the city. not sure what they would do to help you?
I can’t say anything original that hasn’t been written here. I’m with the rest of your circle in hoping you catch the varmints soon.
Bastard minks! I hope the tank does the trick. Love the shots of Boo and Marcel – so sweet. Miss A has the eggs in her classroom now. She is anxiously counting down the days and has told everyone at school about you and the farm. 🙂
I hope you catch those dirty, rotten scoundrels tonight. You are not only a farmer, but, a detective and enforcer well. As others have said, a coat or scarf will surely be your just reward, not to mention a savior of chooks.
Need a smile? This is so cute it made me laugh this morning. I had no idea cows were this curious. Ha! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdfDv9Te2Gs
Melisa, thanks for the video. Very funny!
Boo’s baby lamb is quickly outgrowing his nanny. You had a long day, glad you slept well afterward. We’ll all sleep better when the threat to the chickens is no more, hoping their new abode and location does the job. I’m in favor of mink coats for newborn sheep and calves. I, too, love animals, but they can’t destroy one’s livelihood.
I’ve been a person quick to harshly judge mink coat wearers. Now, not so much!
Like some others, I’m worried it’s spring and they have a family to feed. Sounds like they are too smart for traps…and not hungry enough to risk them…peanut butter? It’s hard to resist.
Boo and company are delightful. WHat a pup you found.
Hope you weekend is quiet and mink free.
Hope you catch those thieving weasels!
Go get ’em Celi. Best of luck with the tractor ..
those shots of Marcel and Boo are just so freaking cute!
Damn minks! I was reading that they kill chickens in a frenzied manner & primarily want the chickens for their blood more than the meat. There are lethal traps that will disperse of them for you. Bating with bloody meat is the fastest way to attract them & if you cover the trap with some junk they are bound to investigate. I was surprised that they have no fear of people & hunt day & night. In farming communities, people will often share traps & help to catch them as they endanger everyone’s animals/poultry. If you have seen 2 minks, there are bound to be more nearby. I read several sites saying it is illegal for them to be released even if one wanted to because they are so destructive to farms. A fat mink can squeeze through a hole 1″. It sounded like the canal you walk along was the primary attraction. Minks are good swimmers. People often set traps along the banks of the water to try & maximize the number killed. Guess, this might be a long battle. So sorry you are having to deal with such savage killers & stressful for the hens lost and new chicks on the way. Farming is definitely not for whimps.
Marcel is so big, but Boo doesn’t seem to mind. Tima seems just the right size for the Nanny now, The Bobby looks like he is enjoying a gallop through the field. Planting your sunflower must make you feel Spring has finally arrived.
I think it will be a long battle, I also think they will not go near the traps until they lose their ‘people’ smell. i have fish on the way today, they like that evidently. and more traps. and yes they do hunt in the daytime.. hideous, but i will keep trapping and despatching, the first will be the hardest, the new chook houses are very close to the house, further from the creek ditch and where the dogs hang out at night, lets hope this protects them..
Bastard(s)! I rarely wish ill toward a critter, but this is unacceptable behaviour and can’t be allowed. Poor skunk yesterday was innocent after all. I sure hope they go for the cooked chook faster than they did for the fresh variety. Argh!!!!
No wonder you slept well. Made me tired reading it all. Sending you good energy!