Official BYC Poll: The Worst Predator

[Akrnaf2]

I lost one of my young hens their first night in the run to a raccoon. It tried to get a second one through the fencing in ripped his entire leg off. And she didn't make it either. Was the saddest thing ever I don't even like to see a picture of a raccoon

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[Birdsong 82]

Looks like you have experience in this field haha

 

[itsasmallfarm]

Havahart only work so well in my opinion i agree with everything but gotta support the duke dp coon trap. There cheaper and really only catch coons. There humane, and work well as far as i have seen.

 

[jcoz]

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[Akrnaf2]

Looks like you have experience in this field haha

Not at all!
We don't have raccoons, and we don't hunt!

 

[Farming Feathers]

Not being familiar with having a farm yet, I'm researching to find answers to possible problems and what measures were taken to avoid these predators. When loss occurred sure efforts were made to prevent re-occurrence so how did these animals get around the efforts to stop them...example tore down barrier, or some other means...just trying to investigate what went wrong...not trying to seek errors. Please help me understand. Kind regards

 

[Birdsong 82]

Lots of different measures like 2x4 welded wire fencing covered with chicken wire held into 4x4 post with U nails specifically. Nylon chicken netting on the top even though it's almost 10 ft tall and sprinkle cayenne pepper around the exterior once a week or so

 

[Birdsong 82]

That's what I've done since and I've seen raccoon at night in the yard and in the shed but my chickens have stayed safe since the run remodeling and they sleep on top of the hen house ( about 6 ft) in the run.

 

[Farming Feathers]

Racoons are both smart and very very strong...I have on one occasion had to try and handle a racoon (a vet assistant animal handler was my job title)...Had very heavy triple layer gloves...couldn't close my hands in a fist shape so thick of gloves...racoon brought in for shots...family pet. I tried to grab the racoon, but it folded up into a ball and when I pulled my hand back to try another grab, it grabbed my gloved hand with a bite that felt like my hand was in a vise...and didn't break the skin, but game very very close to biting through those cloves...and no animal had that strength before accept a caman had a very vice like bite, but that is an alligator family and expected that kind of bite....they do think and can manipulate tricky latches or locks so keep an eye out for them...In the wild racoon does attack wild foul so to them the chicken is just another meal...Hope you can find a means to end the problem without killing them...they are just trying to live...That is just my feelings and understand you must do what you must do.

 

[Birdsong 82]

I was joking before. I personally couldn't kill any living creature. But we found ways to predator proof. It can be done with a little extra work and time. If we can keep predators out living where we live then anybody can do it