Chicken owner concerned by increase in ferret population
A FERRET has attacked a field of free-range chickens, and the birds’ owner has warned that the pests have been becoming more prevalent.
Kevin Smith, 58, has been keeping chickens in a field for about 10 years and currently has around 30 birds.
In 2016 he trapped six ferrets after losing two chickens in attacks.
Last week his birds, which are kept free range in a field near Prevote Tower, were targeted again.
Mr Smith said fortunately he was prepared and as soon as he found a dead bird, he got out his trap. But he is worried about the growing problem of ferrets.
‘I have put up proper fencing, because I have had problems before with dog attacks,’ he said.
‘But that won’t stop ferrets getting in. With a ferret, unless you have pens for the chickens and the base is secure, then they can burrow underneath and they can climb. It is difficult to keep them out.’
Mr Smith keeps his chickens for their free range eggs, so can do little to keep the birds safe apart from fencing and putting down traps if ferrets are around.
He put out his trap the day after finding one dead bird, which had been dragged out of the coop. The next night he caught a large male ferret.
He said he was relieved he had caught the animal so quickly, as once ferrets find a place to feed, they keep returning.
But he was worried about what would happen in the long term, as there was little that could be done to stop the ferrets.
‘The traps in Guernsey seem to only be catching males, but the females are out there and they can have litters of six to 12 little ones.’
He added that he had been speaking to taxi drivers, who said they often see ferrets around the island at night.
