Paul in North Lincs. Posted February 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 I don't think it is mink. My bet is pine marten - at least it would have been over here in Sweden. They live everywhere, even inside villages where they nest under roofs, in attics and garden sheds. I had to catch one a few months ago which had taken up headquarters in my niece's house. Are they very common in England too? If they are, I'm sure it is a marten. Set up a trap and tell us what you catch! Pine martins are bery rate in GB mate.......and certainly my area dosn't support the species.......... ...but one never knows! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Paul, Sorry about the kill, I have been there. If it was a stoat your best bet to catch it is a tunnel trap. If it was a mink or ferret your best bet in your situation is a large live trap with a bird cage inside. Build a cage from some hardwire 1/2 x 1/2 or 1/2 x 1" at the local hardware. Using "J" clips build a cage inside the live trap and place a live piggy inside. Be sure to keep the bird watered and fed and place inside the coop. The cage is built and added on behind the trigger pan, so the mink crosses the pan and the cage keeps te piggy safe from harm. I find some times it is easier to just add the cage to the outside end of the trap. in this case I will put that end inside a snug wood or cardboard box so the mink only sees the bird through the entrance of the trap. I actually have to set one up for my father today or tommorrow so will try to get a couple of photos for you if you like. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul in North Lincs. Posted February 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Paul, Sorry about the kill, I have been there. If it was a stoat your best bet to catch it is a tunnel trap. If it was a mink or ferret your best bet in your situation is a large live trap with a bird cage inside. Build a cage from some hardwire 1/2 x 1/2 or 1/2 x 1" at the local hardware. Using "J" clips build a cage inside the live trap and place a live piggy inside. Be sure to keep the bird watered and fed and place inside the coop. The cage is built and added on behind the trigger pan, so the mink crosses the pan and the cage keeps te piggy safe from harm. I find some times it is easier to just add the cage to the outside end of the trap. in this case I will put that end inside a snug wood or cardboard box so the mink only sees the bird through the entrance of the trap. I actually have to set one up for my father today or tommorrow so will try to get a couple of photos for you if you like. NTTF Cheers Dan...some pictures will be good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob300w Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Sure is a mystery one, I would think that only a cat or fox would be capable of catching flying pigeons, and not sure that a cat would kill 21, I think it more likely that a cat would kill one or two then eat them. After much thought I'm thinking fox now, and in my experience a fox rarely returns for a few days after a raid like this unless there is a real food shortage. Eaten heads suggests fox also, it's quite common for a fox that has already eaten to only eat the head of a rabbit or bird. The backs eaten out of some suggest a bird of prey though, just hope that you get it before it does any more damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul in North Lincs. Posted February 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 perhaps I had a mink sparrowhalk fox and cat in................all at the same time LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAULT Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 us pigeon fanciers got thick skins rats did not do this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiercel Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Paul it just occured to me. DOHHHHH How stupid am I that I never thought of this before? With the amount of blood on the floor there should be footprints there somewhere, they should give a clue as to what killed the pigeons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Hard luck Paul You're guess is as good as mine, but I have watched a rat eating a live pigeon in daylight before so.. hmmm..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROBLATCH Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Also seen rats do this yep got to agree i think rats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 I've lost pigeons to rats but I don't think they'd manage to kill 21 birds in a short space of time. Unless it was a real swarm of them, you haven't seen anyone in the neighbourhood playing a pipe with a hat on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vagabond Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Hey Paul I'm gutted for you mate!!! May I suggest H&N Hollow point they seem to give some satisfaction after you examined the exit wound. Happy hunting. PS please post photos when your done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LONG STOCK Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 my grandad kept pigeons and rats got in from time to time,but they never killed that many at once.just 1 or 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 Rats are very unlikely to kill in broad daylight near activity i didnt realise there had been so much dismemberment, but recently here a lady with 20 ringnecks lost the lot to a rat ....in broad daylight, but they all had thier throats nipped. the rats pulled them all uinderneath the slabs in the bottom, all that was left visible was multi coloured feathers, we didnt discover the bodies until the slabs were lifted...the jack russell then chomped a bloody huge male rat that was under there, i think there must have been more than one rat to take down 20 birds!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rascal_2005 Posted February 29, 2008 Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 did you ever find out what got em?? john boi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyjaimz Posted February 29, 2008 Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 Jesus! what a bloody mess. Gutted for you paul I've got a live catch trap thats well weathered if you want to borrow it mate. Has a small bowl attached to the inside and is certainly big enough to catch a mink. I used it last year to catch a feral cat and a few tree rats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob300w Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 Any news as to what it was doing this? Has it been back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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