9 birds killed in 2 weeks. Warning... graphic in nature. UPDATE PG 5

[r4eboxer]

I agree. Seems to me those vents could have been covered in a fraction of the time it'd take to figure out a laced bait for the coons...
I'd watch your dogs carefully if you're going with poison...

No they could not, the entire roof area of the coop is vented all the way around. The hardware cloth is going to have to be cut with cutters, then nailed all the way around. Then part of the coop that was built on over the winter is going to have to be torn away from the coop so the coons cannot climb up. It will take at least 3 hours to do this. My husband works 18 hrs a day as stated in the op. I work, I have 4 children, two of which have to be taken to baseball practice 30 minutes away and the other taken to basketball practice 15 minutes away. I then have to wait for my children 2.5 hours to be done at ptace and drive 45 more minutes to get home, cook their dinner, feed all my animals when I get home from my boys practice, check in on my 86 yr old Alzheimer and heart patient in laws that live in a house on the property with us, clean up my kitchen do a load of laundry (well maybe do a load of laundry but I do need some clean towels) and then lock up the animals...... but thanks for the assumption of 10 minutes I really wish my life was so relaxed as that. On the bright side I did have a really nice person post the recipe for me on here. And it's great that I get a lunch hour where I could run to TSC to pick up supplies. Unless you are volunteering to come and fix up my vents for me? I also stated that I was putting the poison in an empty coop however I don't think you bothered to read my post much. Besides I want the coon gone, I don't care to just lock them out of the coop, I don't want them around period. When I fix the venting it will be to deter other predators these coons are marked for death.

 

[r4eboxer]

It is horrible and just went through the same thing. I hope you get them. We debated back and forth on poison. Part of me wishes we had after the first birds.
I wish I knew what our neighbor uses for poison as it kills them instantly. The animal will be laying dead over the carcass. I have a feeling you can't get it anymore whatever it is. Good luck and hope all your birds stay safe!

Thanks for the good wishes. I hope I get him too, I think I will with all the wonderful people on here giving me suggestions. One method is sure to work.

 

[centrarchid]

This would be an option if I didn't have to work every morning, if we do not get him/her by this weekend I'd be up to try your suggestion. I really don't want to have to go into the coop again to see a hen dead. I'm going to put the hens in the garage tonight and bait the coop. If I have a dead coon in the morning I'll be happy. AT 43 it's not so easy to camp out anymore and not simple, I've got a lot of work to do during the day with 4 gardens and various farm chores, cooking, cleaning, laundry and shopping to do on my only 2 days off. Not to mention my elderly in laws that my DH and I lend a hand to. I'd rather not make it easier on the coon, I'd rather make it easier on me but if I must sacrifice for my hens I suppose I'm going to have to.

At 46 with a newborn rug-rat I also have a day job yet can get the varmint and have a little fun without having to sacrifice more birds. When raccoons visit, it is not a quite affair as the chickens at the very least will be making a lot of racket and hopefully so will dogs. I camp out in bed room with window open to hear. Dog also helps with alarm system and even actively wakes me if not already awakened. Once action commences and hopefully before losses incurred, get up and put rifle to use.

Next round make it so coons actually must get past dogs. Setup as described does not have that. I do not coop many of my birds but make so dog actually gets to their roost site. Coon has to get past dog to get at chickens. If you saw how flimsy my coops are and how small my dog is you would realize you have soom serious resources that you could do much better with by simply tweeking arrangement. Another key point is that I do not loose chickens to raccoons because of the tweeking.

 

[TeamChaos]

Hey, I hear you on being wrung out- my days are already full and I've been skimping on sleep for the past week or so since our banties got eaten. I know you're going w/ the poison, but I wanted to mention that I've had good luck tying my trap between trees. I run a rope off the handle to a tree, so that the coons can't flip it to get out. I've also heard of staking it to the ground w/ the same effect. Good luck!

 

[motherofmolly]

Would this recipe work for a fox? I have been trying for weeks to catch it!

I'd say it would because the article I read that sited the study about rat poison for other animals mentioned a fox. Let me link that for ya.

IN a nut shell this is what it said about a fox

If you assume a fox has the same tolerance to bromethalin as do dogs (LD50=5mg/kg), and assume your hypothetical fox weighs 30 lbs, the LD50 for a 30lb fox is approximately 68mg. (30lb * kg/2.2lb * LD50 5 mg/kg = 68mg bromethalin).

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_real_kill_0.01_percent_bromethalin_rat_poison_bars_is_required_to_kill_a_larger_animal_such_as_a_raccoon_or_fox_the_size_of_a_medium_sized_dog#ixzz1yGVDGA7A​

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i am not for sure on the fox. i will say that it does work on possums hubby had something getting in his shed, and he put this poison out, the possum made it about 12 feet and i found him on top of the brush two days later. i am not sure if a fox will eat the sugary drink mix though.

we have a fox in our yard. i am not sure if i want to kill the fox (have had two close calls with the chickens and the fox) yet...the fox is keeping the rabbits out of my yard which in turns keeps the coyotes away. it is a give and take.

 

[motherofmolly]

It is horrible and just went through the same thing. I hope you get them. We debated back and forth on poison. Part of me wishes we had after the first birds.
I wish I knew what our neighbor uses for poison as it kills them instantly. The animal will be laying dead over the carcass. I have a feeling you can't get it anymore whatever it is. Good luck and hope all your birds stay safe!

he probably is using the yellow marlin. the vet that gave it to me said he had 15 in one night laying dead all around the pan he set out.

 

[centrarchid]

Use of toxin with free-ranging targets has a high probability of taking out non-target animals. Re-enforcement of coop will be more logical approach.

 

[motherofmolly]

Use of toxin with free-ranging targets has a high probability of taking out non-target animals. Re-enforcement of coop will be more logical approach.

yes you have to be careful using this method. make sure there are no leftovers laying out and around of the poison. it is a pellet form and it is bright blue in color when mixed with the liquid. we free range and i am extra careful about picking it up after putting it out.

 

[centrarchid]

We used to use toxins against mice and rats in hog house. Poisoned animals getting out where sometimes consumed by others. Long-term, other options ended up being smarter.

 

[haroldj]

I can't believe nobody has suggested electric fence. I lost whole flock to 3 racoons. before I replaced the hens, I installed 2 runs of fence on the outside of the chicken run, one about 6-8 inches off the ground and another about 15-18inches up. It has kept our flock of 54 birds safe ever since. We have seen a coon touch the fence and he looked like popcorn. Hair all straight out, he jumped about 4 feet in the air and never came back. We also saw a black bear touch the fence and get discouraged. We've heard it turn away coyotes in the middle of the night when they run away very loudly yipping. I sleep peacefully now knowing our birds are safe.