Words can't describe how angry I am right now.

[think_fast_chicklenuts]

This morning I noticed my favorite chicken, Rosy, was missing. I looked all over for her, but couldn't find her. I was getting really worried, and my heart sank when I saw a trail of feathers leading to under the shed. I checked there, and I found half of her. A raccoon probably took the other half. But that raccoon made one mistake. He left an open chicken corpse right next to his little hidey-hole. He messed with the most dangerous species on the planet, killed their favorite bird, and then left evidence of where he lives. I'm trying to find the trap right now, and I'm trying to decide if I should release him far away, or have a striped hide decoration on my bedroom wall. I like raccoons, I really do, but this one just made me angrier than I've been in a while. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a soul for a soul.

 

[bobbi-j]

“Hidey hole” makes me think skunk or one of his kin.

If you trap, be prepared to dispose of whatever you catch. Check with your local wildlife officials before releasing - it is illegal in some places.

 

[SourRoses]

I'd guess fox. They're more active during the day than raccoons, and have dens.

 

[50-45-1]

And NO! dont catch and release a racoon.
Dispatch it.
If you move it elswhere it just moves your chicken killer near to someone elses flock.
Also moved wildlife is sometimes killed by local wildlife or starved because it has no knowledge of the new territory.
Plus, once you catch and dispatch your coon, your territory will just be occupied by another racoon. Thats how it works
Best to fortify your coop and run against preditors for long term protection.
Good luck!

 

[wrathsfarm]

You have 2 options.
Catch and release or catch and dispatch. Your state laws will point you to which of these options you should follow.

Not doing one or the other will cost you more birds.

 

[tlcmurphy]

I free range them during the day and lock them up at night. But that was definitely the doing of a raccoon, maybe a fox or weasel. The "hidey-hole" Is a big hole in the ground right next to The corpse. It looks about the right size to be a raccoon.

Raccoons do not build dens underground. Could be a skunk, but I’d say weasel if you have those

 

[Lelilamom]

FWIW, We show no mercy to anything that hunts around our coop. Being right next to the barn and subsequently next to the house, if the predator doesn't take a chicken it'll take a cat or our small dog. The only predator that gets a pass are the bald eagles. Unfortunately, they often sit in the tall locust trees right above our coop and I jump up and down yelling at them to leave my birds alone but they just stare at me like I'm a lunatic.

 

[50-45-1]

Hi, are your chickens locked in a secure place at night?
Racoons are opportunists and if you give them an opening, they will take it.
Also, I'm wondering about the "little hidey hole".
That does not sound like racoon to me.
Sorry for your loss!

 

[Ifitaintbroke]

 

[think_fast_chicklenuts]

Hi, are your chickens locked in a secure place at night?
Racoons are opportunists and if you give them an opening, they will take it.
Also, I'm wondering about the "little hidey hole".
That does not sound like racoon to me.
Sorry for your loss

I free range them during the day and lock them up at night. But that was definitely the doing of a raccoon, maybe a fox or weasel. The "hidey-hole" Is a big hole in the ground right next to The corpse. It looks about the right size to be a raccoon.