Chicken attacked by raccoon

richey1978

Hatching
6 Years
Apr 5, 2013
7
2
7
Orange TX
Last night my husband woke me to the sounds of an animal in distress. We thought something was attacking our cat and so we went out with flashlights and guns to protect our pet. We heard a distressed chattering at the fence line, saw our cat way on the other side of the yard watching us, and when we approached the fence something shot up the tree. There was no blood or animal parts at the tree so we figured that maybe it was just a raccoon spat.

This morning I noticed a huge explosion of feathers inside my chicken coop. When I went to the fence I found my barred rock hen cowering under a bush with a massive bald spot and some puncture marks on her back just below the neck. Is there anything that can be done besides isolating her inside and keeping vetericyn on the wounds? I washed her gently in the sink and poured hydrogen peroxide on the wounds first. There is no bleeding at this time and she is breathing Okay and walking Okay as well. I also trimmed the few remaining feathers at the attack site to keep them from getting in the bite marks.

Also, what is used as bait to trap a raccoon? I've heard people use cat food, but I don't want to trap my outside cat.

Any advice is appreciated. I have doctored my girls for various reasons before, but this attack is the worst one of them has gone through.

Thanks!!
 
Last night my husband woke me to the sounds of an animal in distress. We thought something was attacking our cat and so we went out with flashlights and guns to protect our pet. We heard a distressed chattering at the fence line, saw our cat way on the other side of the yard watching us, and when we approached the fence something shot up the tree. There was no blood or animal parts at the tree so we figured that maybe it was just a raccoon spat.

This morning I noticed a huge explosion of feathers inside my chicken coop. When I went to the fence I found my barred rock hen cowering under a bush with a massive bald spot and some puncture marks on her back just below the neck. Is there anything that can be done besides isolating her inside and keeping vetericyn on the wounds? I washed her gently in the sink and poured hydrogen peroxide on the wounds first. There is no bleeding at this time and she is breathing Okay and walking Okay as well. I also trimmed the few remaining feathers at the attack site to keep them from getting in the bite marks.

Also, what is used as bait to trap a raccoon? I've heard people use cat food, but I don't want to trap my outside cat.

Any advice is appreciated. I have doctored my girls for various reasons before, but this attack is the worst one of them has gone through.

Thanks!!

The best lure for a coon in my experience is fish oil. I don't know how much experience you have trapping or what kind of trap you plan to use but a Sleepy Creek #1 1/2 coil spring has worked well for me. I used to cut 2" PVC about 1 1/2' long and pound it into the ground at an angle. Squirt some fish oil on a cotton ball and put it in the PVC. Set the trap at the bottom where the coon's feet will be when he reaches up to grab the edge of the PVC to look inside. If set properly you'll catch a coon every time 100%. If not you could try putting fish oil in a box trap like the Hav-A-Hart types and you might get him but you'll likely get a lot of cats you didn't know where around too. Also, just something to think about, but how do you plan to get rid of the coon once trapped? They'll come back if you release him, and you have to be very careful not to get bit also. If you're in a rural area a 22 short to the head will do the trick. Be careful when you approach him though because a pee'd off coon is worse than a mother grizzly around her cubs - I know that from experience, believe me.
 
Yes, we live in the middle of nowhere, so we plan on dispatching the raccoon immediately. I have one of the typical live traps you get at tractor supply, so hopefully that will work. I'll try the fish oil, thanks!
 
Yes, we live in the middle of nowhere, so we plan on dispatching the raccoon immediately. I have one of the typical live traps you get at tractor supply, so hopefully that will work. I'll try the fish oil, thanks!
Ok that's good. You can get the fish oil here: http://www.minntrapprod.com/Fish-Oil-Pint-16-Ounces/productinfo/OFISHO16/PINT/

It's more than you'll need but you'll have it if the situation arises again. If I lived nearby I'd get rid of him for you because I know how destructive they can be. I could tell ya some stories but I'd probably clog the server. If you end up having a hard time trapping him you can always call the local trapping club and I'm sure they'll help you out. Just look on the internet - most every state has chapters.
 

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