Advice needed for Raccoon problem

[bryan99705]

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I've had chickend walk thru electric fence to get to my hog's feed trough. I hung a strip of deer netting on the fence and it stopped them

 

[turbodog]

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That's the funniest thing I've ever heard of.

x2 Sounds like a form of perpetual motion. You have a coon feeder that gets them a free trip but it seems they always would come back smarter and with their friends.

I think SentryFE "relocates" them to the back of the property the way I do. It's a one way trip.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

Yes- back of the property re-location is the same method of relocation that I use - as often as possible. I position myself on a upside down water tank, near my hay shed and fight off Mosquitos that are big enough to wear saddles this year, and wait. Usually between 8:45 and 9:05 I get my chance. They come creeping out of the woods and creek and start prowling around looking for dinner. I only have a single shot .22 so I have to pick and choose carefully. My gun doesn't have a "clip" so after one shot - I have to re-load and by the time I get that done - the others are gone - until the next evening. Sometimes I skip several evenings - just to keep them guessing. I rarely miss my target.

You have to trap or shoot them. They are very smart and crafty - sooner or later they figure how to get into things. They can even learn to manipulate latches on your buildings or coops - or tear through old roofs or shingles. I never under estimate them.

Don't trap and re-locate them to another location - it brings trouble to someone else.

Joni

 

[Terrie Mac]

jojo@rolling acres farm :

They are very smart and crafty - sooner or later they figure how to get into things. They can even learn to manipulate latches on your buildings or coops - or tear through old roofs or shingles. I never under estimate them.

Joni

Our portable coop is more like a big cage with a little shelter and nesting boxes, and is about 4ft off the ground. Each door has one sliding bolt type latch. Do we need to beef up the security? There are raccoons around here but they don't venture into our yard anymore since we got dogs...but chickens might be too tempting. (We do have a roving skunk just about each night).

 

[Spires6]

Terrie Mac: That is the most adorable chicken I have ever seen!

I have had coons pull baby turkeys, chicks, chickens and ducklings through wire cages. I also one time put ducklings in a heavy duty metal cage type dog crate in my barn and the suckers actually pulled the corner pins out of the cage to get to them. I couldn't even do that!

 

[SentryFE]

Funny thing is I can promise you I never ever had to relocate the same coon twice. I have relocated over 30 in the last year. And I have never had anything try to get at my birds.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

Several years ago - I had a retired gentleman build me two heavy duty very large glorified dog houses with sloped shingled roofs, sliding latches on hinged doors, etc. I lost a hen and 17 4-week old babies one night when the coon/coons opened the sliding lock latch! I had the coop for less than a month! I could see scratch marks on the other hutch/coop door where they had tried to do the same thing but the latch fit much tighter. They also tried to chew into a corner of the door - they do it all. I think it was a female with a very hungry litter.

The only things left of my poor hen and her chicks were a few feathers and a gizzard!

I would come up with an additional option "B" for your locks/latches. I'm not kidding. At different times in my life I've raised baby coons and I know how they think and how much trouble they can cause as adults.

I can't really tell how the wire is fastened to the frame on your cage...if there is a weak spot they'll find it.

I love the look of your cage and the floor looks like it would be easy to clean - a real bonus!!!

Your baby is just beautiful and looks very happy! You are very blessed...

Good luck - when do you add your chickens?

Joni

 

[SentryFE]

Ruger single six with .22 CB's nothing but a small pop once sedated it is time for relocation. PLus I have a few very nice high end air guns it can put a coon to sleep at 50 yards with ease. I most states it is illegal to relocate live animals. All you do is remove it from its home range or give someone else a problem.

 

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
Our portable coop is more like a big cage with a little shelter and nesting boxes, and is about 4ft off the ground. Each door has one sliding bolt type latch. Do we need to beef up the security? There are raccoons around here but they don't venture into our yard anymore since we got dogs...but chickens might be too tempting. (We do have a roving skunk just about each night).

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/92140_millie_coop1.jpg

Can't tell if you've got a pullet or a cockerel there, but it sure is pretty!! LOL The only thing I see potentionally iffy with your pen is the slide latch...I'd add some kind of latch that you could lock, or for quick access, use a carabiner (sp?) type clip - something difficult for little coon hands to manipulate.

 

[Eggs Are Good]

I lost three chickens two nights ago. Something tore through two layers of chicken wire, and had a feast. I put out a trap last night, and this is what I caught. Anyone need a new hat?