I saw an injured raccoon this afternoon - odd because it was still light outside and doubly odd, because in the 2 1/2 years I've lived in this house, I've never seen any raccoons (or even in signs of them). This raccoon's tail was kinda hanging mostly off and obviously had an open sore on it's back. When I opened the back door, it just sat and stared at me (it was just across the yard). When I came all the way out, it walked along the fence, to the corner of the yard. When I stepped onto the grass, it climbed (painfully, you could tell) the fence and then sat there looking at me. I was headed to the chickens and when I got to the gate, I turned back and the raccoon was gone.
This evening, my husband was looking out the back door and saw the motion light go on and there was the raccoon again, he didn't get a good look at it, but it would be too much of a coincidence to not be the same one. It ambled away when he opened the door.
I'm afraid he may see my 2 young hens as an easy meal, especially since he's injured. I really don't want to see anything happen to them.
I live in town on just a hair under a quarter acre. The coop is in a converted dog run and we only have chicken wire covering the original fence. The coop is pretty solidly built, but I'm wondering if my hook and eye latches are enough to keep out the raccoon. I can't afford to spend very much money at all right now, so any cheap suggestions would be extremely helpful.
I'm also getting 7 chicks next month, so I want to make sure that once they're out of the brooder, they'll be safe.
Thanks for your help.
This evening, my husband was looking out the back door and saw the motion light go on and there was the raccoon again, he didn't get a good look at it, but it would be too much of a coincidence to not be the same one. It ambled away when he opened the door.
I'm afraid he may see my 2 young hens as an easy meal, especially since he's injured. I really don't want to see anything happen to them.
I live in town on just a hair under a quarter acre. The coop is in a converted dog run and we only have chicken wire covering the original fence. The coop is pretty solidly built, but I'm wondering if my hook and eye latches are enough to keep out the raccoon. I can't afford to spend very much money at all right now, so any cheap suggestions would be extremely helpful.
I'm also getting 7 chicks next month, so I want to make sure that once they're out of the brooder, they'll be safe.
Thanks for your help.
