Do Weasels kill for fun?

[muttbuster]

A friend of mine is loosing chickens and an occasional duck at an alarming rate. She found 6 chickens dead and one duck. The chickens were penned but there was a small opening for something to get in. She set a cage trap and the animal ate the chicken bait threw the cage wire mesh.  What does this sound like to you?

[Leglifter]

Sounds like a weasel

[CoyoteJeff]

What size cage trap did she set and how big of a hole was there ?

[swarter2]

If she can get a closed box trap used for trapping nuisance skunks.

[Hern]

Mice & Rats will eat/nibble on bait in box traps.
Sounds like a Weasel (or Mink).
It's very hard to catch a Weasel in a Hen House with box traps. They are focused on fresh, live chickens and their natural behavior to kill prey takes over.
As far as killing more than one chicken, in hen house...
I offen heard about this over the years and witnessed once.
I only have my opinion and oberservation... There are many chickens  running, flopping, flying, clucking so much confusion and mayhem, I think the Weasel makes a kill, then see another easy kill and another and another and another.
I saw this same behavior from a Red Fox in a hen house. Killed 11 took 5 on two trips.
Maybe predators get caught in the monment when they have the chance, maybe it's their nature. Someday I may know.
muttbuster, I have better success trapping Weasels at chicken coops with 'blind sets', outside next to wall(s) of coop.

[muttbuster]

Thanks guys, what exactly is a blind set? She has one medium and and small cage trap that is made for weasels. She set the traps last night and one was not touched and the other was set off. No weasel. Instead, the weasel killed her duck. Now she's crying. She lost 18 chickens and three pet ducks in the last month.

[longhair]

She might be inclined to let ya try some night time hunt'n with a .22 or a .17. 

[muttbuster]

If she can't trap it this week I may go and hunt all night this Friday. 223  wssm will be sure to stop it in it's tracks. It's close to Mountaineer. Want to go George?

[Leglifter]

Might take 2 shots, them weasels get pretty big!!!
Try a rat trap set on a likely path to the chickens, no bait( thats a "blind" set)
 maybe lean a board or something over the trap to create a tunnel that only weasel can get through.
That will eliminate the chance af something else getting in it

[muttbuster]

Thanks Bob, I'll tell her to give it a try. How big does a male long tail weasel get?

[Leglifter]

3 maybe 400 pounds, given the proper diet

[muttbuster]

your butt is 3 to 400 pounds. Ha Ha

[Leglifter]

 

[swarter2]

Tell your sister to leave some orange sauce out for the weasle

[Hern]

A blind set is a trap placed (hidden) in the travelway of an animal. At times, guide sticks are used. No bait or lure is used. You are taking advantage of a critters nature travelway and your ability to conceal trap naturally. Nothing is out of place or undisturbed when finished making set. Blind setting can become an art form.

Weasel set at hen house...
next to outside wall
dig small depression to bed trap
Set small foothold trap and fasten to anchor. Make sure trap is bedded solid and doesn't wobble
Place loose jaw against wall so Weasel must go between jaws (not over jaws)
cover trap with sifted dirt, only slight cover or no covering, Weasels aren't trap shy
place board, plywood, tin or such near outside jaw of trap to create a tunnel
*note:
Use trap size #0 to #1 1/2.
Set on hair trigger
Make sure pan is level with jaws or below jaws when foothold trap is in set positon
Loose jaw to wall
Thishere tunnel-blind set will also take pesty barn Rats & Chipmunks