Trapping Chicken Killers

I talked to a Taxidermist assistant today -- (maybe just office assistant I don't know) - who said for mounting a blow to the head would be the best -- but in a live trap -- the 'blunt object' would have to be pretty narrow -- and it would assume that the raccoon would calmly sit there and be killed - which probably wouldn't happen. -- Then they said .22 would be next best..but I'm not buying another gun just to shoot a raccoon. - and yes, I do have damage on the bottom of the 'cheap good-for-nothing' TSC live trap - but after a few tries - it got the critter - so i won't complain too much.

Probably it can spend tonight in the trap - hopefully be dispatched tomorrow -- they will probably keep it in a freezer for a year or so -- because they have a backlog due to 'deer mounts' -- but I don't care about that -- I want it gone from here. I always liked 'natural history museums' - and we are a small rural area...there is a Nature Center -- and all they have (and they have a lot of cool stuff ) is a bob cat... so maybe in a year they can also have a raccoon among their displays.....

Thanks for the advice about hollow point... no worries about noise here.

JJSS89 said:

Indeed, also there is a double door polyurethane trap that is made out of large PVC pipe and is very effective for skunks. They won't spray in an enclosed pipe like that.

For raccoons and possums, dog proof (DP) traps are effective and can be set anywhere without risking injury to dogs.

One thing to note is that very rarely is the bait in the trap going to be as intriguing as fresh meat to your predator. One very effective method is to make the entrance to the coop the trap.

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Cats can definitely be caught in a dog-proof trap. A true dog-proof is a pull only trigger trap, and a cat can pull the trigger. If domestic cats are a problem, the cage trap is best.

WFalkner said:

Cats can definitely be caught in a dog-proof trap. A true dog-proof is a pull only trigger trap, and a cat can pull the trigger. If domestic cats are a problem, the cage trap is best.

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Yep, I was referring to dogs since it is called a "Dog Proof" not a cat proof.

Great topic, I didn't read through every reply so sorry if this is repetitive. I have a batch of meat chickens In a moovable pen, 19 egg layers have a secure coop and free range some days, and 5 young goslings. I currently have a neighboring dog problem. Don't know where the dog belongs and don't know neighbors yet and hate for our first introduction to be on a negative note. To date ony one hen came up missing. What are the laws and rules (Indiana)? Dog visits evry couple days, I would rather not kill the dog or injure it. That Seems too extreme to me, but if I could scare or temporarily inflict a little pain to deter I would def do that. What is most effective?

Hotwire around the pen would probably be the best option for you. Or a full fence on your property if you have the cash.

They sell little kits at many stores and online that are hotwire enabled through solar power for a few hundred bucks and they work for many other applications i.e. garden guarding.

For some 14 gauge fence wire and a used charger, with a few t-posts...you could keep any dog out.

Just saying that just because it is a dog-proof trap don't mean other domestic animals around the home can't be caught in it. Been trapping with these things since they were introduced. A lot of people forget about the possibility of catching a cat, especially if they don't have a cat themselves.

WFalkner said:

Just saying that just because it is a dog-proof trap don't mean other domestic animals around the home can't be caught in it. Been trapping with these things since they were introduced. A lot of people forget about the possibility of catching a cat, especially if they don't have a cat themselves.

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The chance is so slim that it's not an issue... Especially if you use the pull only style trap, and sweet bait. I use the pull only for that reason, the double trigger style will give u non target catches simply by design. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

WFalkner said:

Just saying that just because it is a dog-proof trap don't mean other domestic animals around the home can't be caught in it. Been trapping with these things since they were introduced. A lot of people forget about the possibility of catching a cat, especially if they don't have a cat themselves.

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I don't think anybody disagrees with you.

Good thread! I have two sizes of live traps, and have found that the larger trap (3' long?) is catching more raccoons than the 'raccoon sized' trap. It cost more, but has been worth it here. The 22 is perfect for dispatching critters in the trap, and I've also used it to euthanize chickens if necessary. Mary