Fisher cats

[Duckers'nFluffers88]

Hello all! I am fairly new to the duck mom life and I have 8 ducks, 2 of which reside inside at night, and 6 which stay outside (my khakis that are much more skittish). I recently was approached by a neighbor who let me know he had recently lost a few of his chickens and ducks to a fisher and wanted to make sure all the other poultry owners in the neighborhood knew too. I am now paranoid that my duck shelter isn’t secure enough (I’ve been religiously getting my khakis in their night enclosure at the same approximate time to the point they go in on their own now without being prompted). Has anyone here ever dealt with fishers and preventing them from getting on the property?
I haven’t lost any of my ducks, but I want to make sure that it doesn’t happen as I love my ducks dearly.

 

[The Phantom]

If it were me I would shoot them and keep my mouth shut. They will always come back especially if they have had a meal.

 

[keesmom]

What is their nighttime enclosure like? If a fisher can get at them so can other critters, such as raccoons, mink and weasels.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Adding an electric line for nighttime use is easy and keeps them from poking around for openings.

 

[Cryss]

Fishers dig under so have an underground "fence" or apron in place. Fishers climb like monkeys! so have covering over top. And last, fishers can squeeze through teensy weensy holes also make sure all that fencing/netting is at least 1/2 inch hardware cloth and that there are no gaps or holes in anything anywhere. I know there is also 1/4 inch hardware cloth and some people reccomend it due to a fishers ability to squeeze in. I opted for1/2inch because it is mentioned more frequently as the stuff to use and mostly because the wire gauge of 1/4 is thinner which I felt would be easier for another predator to rip through. That's just my personal preference. I suggest you check out both sizes for yourself and decide what's best for you.
Good luck!

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Fishers dig under so have an underground "fence" or apron in place. Fishers climb like monkeys! so have covering over top. And last, fishers can squeeze through teensy weensy holes also make sure all that fencing/netting is at least 1/2 inch hardware cloth and that there are no gaps or holes in anything anywhere. I know there is also 1/4 inch hardware cloth and some people reccomend it due to a fishers ability to squeeze in. I opted for1/2inch because it is mentioned more frequently as the stuff to use and mostly because the wire gauge of 1/4 is thinner which I felt would be easier for another predator to rip through. That's just my personal preference. I suggest you check out both sizes for yourself and decide what's best for you.
Good luck!

Fishers are big strong weasels, I think they'd shred the 1/4".

 

[Backyard Bruce]

Yes they would laugh right through 1/4" HW cloth, I like the 1/2" HW cloth with a layer of 2X4 or 2X2 welded wire over top of that.

 

[Duckers'nFluffers88]

Thanks everyone! The ducks enclosure is currently on my front porch which is a cement slab with iron rod fence accents. I’ve wrapped hardware cloth inside and outside of everything and will be working on a better design for their closure using our scrap wood and a few other supplies. So far I haven’t even seen these fishers but it definitely got me worried after a neighbor told me about his chickens and ducks. I’ve thought about adding an electric enclosure but from seeing the reply’s I probably should just do it. I’m also surprised since I’ve heard of fishers taking cats and we haven’t lost any of our cats either. Better safe than sorry!

I’m also curious if anyone has ever had trouble with fishers ever attacking during the day? Our cats are great at protecting the ducks from other cats and large birds of prey, but are no match for fishers. Also does it help that the area of their night pen is well lit and right up against the house? Or are these psychopath weasels not phased by that either?

 

[keesmom]

Cats are no match for foxes and coyotes either and I've had both of those attack during the day. Around here it's the coyotes taking any outdoor cats.

I've never had a fisher problem during the day, and the resident ones don't like to come close to the house. But the raccoons certainly do.

 

[Backyard Bruce]

This is pretty cool, Fisher Cat vs. Squirrel in daylight.