Mink Attack

[Falling Tree Farm]

I wanted to let the Nankin community know about an incident that occurred recently.  I had a mink get into my Nankin coop and kill a dozen adult birds including my two roosters.  It was a classic mink attack with the birds killed by a neck bite.  Only one bird was eaten to any degree, one had its head bitten off.  I am sharing this information to remind everyone to check their coops for any possible entry point for varmints.  The mink got in by pushing up wire covering part of the chickens run that had been loosened by the frost heaves this Spring.  You just can't be too careful!  Fortunately I have some chicks out that were in my basement and more eggs in a friends incubator so I should be able to continue my line. 
I am grateful to those of you who heard about this incident and offered me stock but I have decided that if at all possible I would like to continue to work within my own line at this point.  It has been a closed line for years.
The results of the attack was an awful sight to see that left me sad and angry.  Letting you know about it and urging that you be more careful than I was seemed like the only useful thing I could do at this point.  I hope you are having a better year.  Howard Kogan, Falling Tree Farm

[nankin3]

Howard.
 Just wondering how your birds are doing now. Were you able to get some good hatches and get your flock back in order? Raccoons are the problem in my area glad I don't have the minks as I've heard they are very hard to keep out of a pen. Let us know how the flock is doing please.

[Falling Tree Farm]

Thanks for your interest and concern.  I have ended up with about 40 Nankins because I had eggs in a friends incubator and a few more in mine in my basement.  I was very fortunate.  In a normal year I would wait till the hens raised the birds themselves but with the ABA National Show in our area in January (Northeast Poultry Congress, West Springfield, MA), I wanted extra birds this year.  I will have enough to continue my line which is the old Dempsey line.  Despite many attempts to trap the mink, I never did get it but everything is tightened up and I have not had any more predator problems.  Howard

[nankin3]

Hi Howard,
 Glad to hear you were able to retain enough birds to continue your line what a terrible loss that would have been. Hope you post pics one day of some of your birds I would love to see them. Hope you do great at the show keep us posted. Also as I am new to the Nankins where did the Dempsey line originate? I really enjoy hearing how people have aquired thier lines. I hope to get mine traced back as far as I can but I have seemed to hit a dead end with them for now.
 Danny

[Falling Tree Farm]

The Dempsey line is from one import maybe the original import from England at least in modern times.  John Dempsey of Connecticut had this line for many years-see Field's book on Nankins published by the ALBC.  Howard

[nankin3]

Thanks Howard,
 That is very interesting, now I am really glad you were able to save your line what a true treasure that is to have. I am trying to locate a copy of Fields book but I think they are out of print. I have'nt been able to find where I can get a copy, I am going to the library Saturday and see if they can find a copy I can at least get to read it that way.
Danny

[lingling]

A friend of mine had a mink attack her chickens.  Our Dept of AG NPIP testing fellow told her how to trap the mink.  Build a tunnel about 4 - 6 ft long (you can use 1x6 boards), put a trap in the end of the tunnel.  The mink will run the tunnel and hit the trap.  It worked for my friend.
The mink had bitten the heads off her Seramas.  Nothing else.