Since we've been leaving the barn lights on at night and allowing the chickens free-run in the hopes that they can escape any nocturnal preditors, we haven't seen any signs of disturbance. Art even found three eggs yesterday and we were beginning to think that the weasel/mink had moved on to another feeding ground. When Art opened the doors to the barn this morning he saw a large scattering of feathers. He also heard distinctive chewing noises coming from his corner of sh*t (it's not really junk, it's just an area where he stores a lot of stuff including a motorcycle with no title) . There he saw the weasel chewing on the decapitated head of our rooster. He attempted to shoot it many, many times but was unsuccessful. Our neighbor told him it was most likely a weasel, but Art still thinks it's a mink because it's almost completely black, is fast and runs like a cat. All I know is that I'm down to three hens and if the weasel/mink can take out a large rooster complete with spurs, those hens won't be around much longer.

Art and I have decided to get out of the chicken business. We've lost more than twenty chickens in the last six months or so and we just don't have the heart to do it anymore. We've always allowed our chickens free-range because it's healthier for them and it makes the eggs taste better. But because of this freedom they became prey to raccoons. But now, even if we were to fence them in, they're prey to the weasel. Sure I could buy more chickens; laying hens are about $7 dollars a piece (which is pretty pricey when I would want about 10 hens), day old chicks are around $1.25 but it will take at least twelve weeks before they start laying. We have some friends that raise laying hens and it's all they can do to just give away their eggs, so at least I won't have to buy eggs from the store.

Art is going to set up a live trap to try and catch the weasel. If that works, perhaps we'll get more chickens in the spring. Until then, it'll be a little quieter around the farm.