3 days have gone by, 3 cockerels found dead. What's happening!?-Part 2

[Hencraze24]

Another hen dead...

That's right. For all those who responded to part one (or if your new and didn't see part one) we have been having a couple of casualties in our flock. people said it was a raccoon of some sort. this morning, another hen died... It looks like a raccoon, all right. there were fresh holes in the ground. And there were droppings that didn't belong to the chickens. Our friends are giving us an animal trap-

What do we do with it if we catch it, and what do we use for bait?

(thanks for all those who commented on part 1)

 

[workindog]

I know nothing about this but my advice is if they are going for your chickens, use some uncooked or even try cooked chicken. Or maybe cat food as bait.

And if it were me because i hate killing all animals, i would relocate it far away from any homes/farms but near some water source. Tho that being said, ive heard relocating animals can be against the law. So if you do let it go, do it at night just in case.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

Another hen dead...

That's right. For all those who responded to part one (or if your new and didn't see part one) we have been having a couple of casualties in our flock. people said it was a raccoon of some sort. this morning, another hen died... It looks like a raccoon, all right. there were fresh holes in the ground. And there were droppings that didn't belong to the chickens. Our friends are giving us an animal trap-

What do we do with it if we catch it, and what do we use for bait?

(thanks for all those who commented on part 1)

I didn’t see part one, but if your friends have loaned you a cage style trap you can use cat food and/or sweets to lure raccoons.

Little marshmallows work well and neighborhood cats won’t mess with them. A few sprinkled in front of the trap, and a few inside and a big handful in the back will usually get you a coon.

They are typically easy to catch, but often there is more than one, and many times we catch the a possum or a different raccoon first, before the culprit is caught... or there might actually be multiple culprits.

Once caught, it’s typically considered bad form to relocate it because now you have a trap wise critter that might end up after another persons chickens, or could travel several miles to return to your coop... and it could contribute to the spread of diseases such as rabies.

So what to do? Sometimes a local animal control will assist with putting it down, but sometimes they just pretend to do so and turn it out when no one is looking... so it could come right back to your place.

Shooting it is the most humane and efficient method of putting down the caught raccoon, but if that is not something you’re comfortable with or if you do not have a firearm you might want to ask a friend of family member, etc. to help.

....that being said, ive heard relocating animals can be against the law. So if you do let it go, do it at night just in case.

Lol... I finally I get the criminal mindset now: a normally illegal act is not considered illegal if it’s dark out and no one sees you.

 

[workindog]

Yeah im far from a criminal but i dont believe in killing animals unless you truly have to.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

Yeah im far from a criminal but i dont believe in killing animals unless you truly have to.

I was just teasing because I thought the way you worded it was funny. I did not mean to lump you in with the axe murders and politicians

I know a lot of people feel the same as yourself on the subject of killing trapped chicken eaters... I’m not here to preach on the relocation topic, you do as you see fit, just don’t bring them out by me.

 

[Pekin747]

Let me know when u catch it
And I'd personally shoot it but ik se people can bring themselves to do it but if u bring it to a local vet they'll prob do the job for u

 

[twendt]

I caught a 40# RATCOON with old pizza, my mom gave me this advice and it worked the first try! He made a big mistake trying to eat MY chickens! My mom has one of those havahart large traps (she has personally trapped and shot around "60" raccoons). I had to call her to shoot the thing after I trapped it. I couldn't do it myself ( I've never killed an animal). So far, after 1 1/2 yrs I'm still raccoon free. My mom couldn't believe how big he was!! Good luck and Get that sucker!

 

[workindog]

I was just teasing because I thought the way you worded it was funny. I did not mean to lump you in with the axe murders and politicians

Lol yeah i guess it was kinda funny

 

[50-45-1]

this morning, another hen died..

So i sounds like you are having these losses at night when the chickens are roosting.
Do you have a coop for your chickens?
If so, cant you lock them in and make sure nothing can get to them at night?
You can not trap kill/relocate all the different preditors that will eat your chickens at night.
but you can build a coop that nothing else can get in.
Trapping racoons is not hard, but remove one and another just moves into the territory.
If i did not have a secure coop, i would expect be chickenless in about a month.
Good luck!
And i am sorry about your chickens.

 

[Hencraze24]

So i sounds like you are having these losses at night when the chickens are roosting.
Do you have a coop for your chickens?
If so, cant you lock them in and make sure nothing can get to them at night?
You can not trap kill/relocate all the different preditors that will eat your chickens at night.
but you can build a coop that nothing else can get in.
Trapping racoons is not hard, but remove one and another just moves into the territory.
If i did not have a secure coop, i would expect be chickenless in about a month.
Good luck!
And i am sorry about your chickens.

we find them outside, not in our coop. we leave the door open at night, but the coop is like 4 feet off the ground. i guess they are slow to get in the coop and get attacked at night? raccoons are nocturnal, right?