The General Poultry Chat Forum

Stoat in Duck shed.

I had a stoat in my duck shed yesterday. I saw it several times during the morning and afternoon.

By evening there was no sight of it, but I moved the ducks out into the greenhouse to be sure they would not be harmed.

I left a cracked egg, minced beef and sardines out last night to see if it had gone. They were not touched.

Unfortunately the shed covers a huge area as it is three buildings with a common roof, the ducks being in the center. The buildings contain a lifetimes worth of work and hobby related stuff, so the number of secluded holes, nooks and crannies is uncountable.

What is the best approach, leave the ducks in the greenhouse for a week or two or move them back as the stoat is unlikely to have set up home anyway?

kwackers
Wednesday, September 18th, 2024

Dunno if ye PM's have blown up, Kwackers? ;)

It's still in the dispersal time, just now. Stuff's moving out. Looking for its own opportunities.

Look on this as an opportunity of ye own. Chance to sit down and reflect.

Ratcatcher
Thursday, September 19th, 2024

Well thanks, but it means nothing.
I looked up stoats on the internet, but have no practical experience.
Are you saying it was just passing through?

The food was taken today from a high point, but I suspect it was a magpie that went in, there were a lot about today.

I don't know what to reflect on, the only thing I can do is see if the food is taken and maybe try to empty and seal off the shed I keep the ducks in.

I am getting a tad sick of tomatoes and cucumbers so I think I will get the electric fence set up to give them security in the greenhouse, they did a phenomenal clearance job on it last winter. If they stay there from now until spring it will not matter too much.

kwackers
Thursday, September 19th, 2024