ShootingEgg Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 A friend of mine has turkeys, so that they can sell them t Christmas, has been doing it years, this year they are in a shed due to the flu outbreaks, but she has had 5 dead in the past week, all have puncture marks just below the head on their necks. Trial cam only shows rats running around the outside of the shed. Would a rat just bite the neck then leave the birds dead, or has something like a stoat got in? She has now made the shed an expanding foam mess haha to block all visible holes.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 Hello, maybe they are aggressive to each other ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultrastu Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 Sounds like a mink to me . But a stoat could also be to blame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted September 13, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 14 minutes ago, Ultrastu said: Sounds like a mink to me . But a stoat could also be to blame. This is my thinking, almost like two puncture marks at the base of head /top of neck. But birds left whole. So almost drained blood and then left Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 I would of thought rats would only take them when they where young i lost a brood of duckling this way but as said a stoat or a mink when you have poultry or animals i would be tempted to have traps a fen mk4 set 24/7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discobob Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 have a look to see if there is a little wooden casket anywhere - I reckon you have a vampire Turkey!! Shame it wasn't ducks (Count Duckula) as I can't get anything to go for Turkeys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted September 13, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 40 minutes ago, Bigbob said: I would of thought rats would only take them when they where young i lost a brood of duckling this way but as said a stoat or a mink when you have poultry or animals i would be tempted to have traps a fen mk4 set 24/7 Have given her my tunnel traps The turkeys are a few weeks old now so rat would be taking on something 3 times its size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mice! Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 Definitely sounds like ferret/stoat/mink Baited cage traps would be a good idea, but it sounds like you'll be catching rats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldypigeonpopper Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 (edited) Expanding foam will not do any good if it is rats, they will get through timber, concrete , they even dig under building footings, a good trap or lead shot is best, Edited September 13, 2022 by oldypigeonpopper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted September 13, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 3 hours ago, oldypigeonpopper said: Expanding foam will not do any good if it is rats, they will get through timber, concrete , they even dig under building footings, a good trap or lead shot is best, I know this but she lost 3 in one night so went in and blocked any hole with anything .. First year they have ever lost them to a predator/pest 4 hours ago, Mice! said: Definitely sounds like ferret/stoat/mink Baited cage traps would be a good idea, but it sounds like you'll be catching rats? Yeah they are all outside and under the sheds. We shall see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 6 hours ago, ShootingEgg said: A friend of mine has turkeys, so that they can sell them t Christmas, has been doing it years, this year they are in a shed due to the flu outbreaks, but she has had 5 dead in the past week, all have puncture marks just below the head on their necks. Trial cam only shows rats running around the outside of the shed. Would a rat just bite the neck then leave the birds dead, or has something like a stoat got in? She has now made the shed an expanding foam mess haha to block all visible holes.. A spacing between punctures would give a better idea? Mink, Polecat, Stoat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 Years ago when i had all my poultry i had fens down 24/7 now just got the ferrets and dogs i have mouse traps in the shed for the freezers and in the garage for the dog food and freezer . You could go a while catching nought and then have a few catches in a row same with the mouse traps i dont know if its youngsters looking for a territory or adults looking for prey just safer having traps down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted September 13, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 42 minutes ago, old man said: A spacing between punctures would give a better idea? Mink, Polecat, Stoat? Well it's not rat. And I'd be amazed if we had polecat... So mink or stoat but I don't know jaw structure so couldn't say which unless I trap or catch one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted September 13, 2022 Report Share Posted September 13, 2022 Just now, ShootingEgg said: Well it's not rat. And I'd be amazed if we had polecat... So mink or stoat but I don't know jaw structure so couldn't say which unless I trap or catch one A few polecats about I think, road kills here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted September 14, 2022 Report Share Posted September 14, 2022 The fact there killed with a bite mark to the back of the head and not eaten or removed suggests a small bodied prey animal ? And i reckon it will keep going till caught a few traps down and a look at night with alight should help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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