Advice wanted from NON-trigger happy folks please...

[chicmom]

Why don't you relocate them to a wilderness center or nature preserve...someplace like that, where it's more woodsy and less populated?

That's what I would do.

 

[svalentine]

A raccoon is stealing the bait in the trap. How do they do that? Smart little buggers.

 

[TNRIRRoo]

Why were racoons out during the day?

If babies are around so is momma. You can put away all the food if that makes you feel better but I'm guessing the chickens are the food they are after. The amonia idea sounds good though.

I'll stop there since I am one of those trigger happy individuals.

 

[teach1rusl]

Thanks for all of the suggestions guys! I was "Duhhhhh"ing myself about the electric fence idea though...not sure why I didn't think of that??? Not the whole property perimeter fence, but at least the run I can do. I don't mind them being around, but just don't want them trying to figure out a way into the run.

This whole area (Kentucky/Southern Indiana) is pretty rural, so animal control would laugh their behinds off if I called about a raccoon issue. There is a national forest area not too far away, but I'm pretty sure it would be illegal for me to release raccoons there (although the idea DID cross my mind). I like the amonia idea, but don't know if I'd be willing to faithfully treat around my run (which is fairly large) every evening, although I may try that until we get an electric wire in place. The playing talk radio at night idea cracked me up, because choosing a station would cause political unrest between DH and I...lol. Plus I don't know if I want my chickens becoming more opinionated than they already are...

You know Ema, I think you may be right about Momma Coon. I thought it was odd that those babies would be out on our fence last week in broad daylight. And I have found a few small droppings around, but no large ones. So that does make me wonder if Momma met her maker and these two are working on their own, and therefore are being more careless and bold in their wonderings??? Anyhow...thanks again for everybody's input!

 

[BlackBart]

Electric fence or a scarecrow sprinkler http://www.safepetproducts.com/scarecrow-motion-sprinkler.html
There is allot of Raccoons where I live and most people leave a radio on tuned to a talk show. I was skeptical it would work but it does seem to help. But, I still would use electric fencing.

We have had Raccoons walk up the driveway at high noon. I was told if they are out during the day they are either old or young and competition for food is driving them to look during the day.

 

[lizardz]

Thank you for your post. It's encouraging to me, as I was beginning to think I was the only one who tried to find a solution rather than shooting everything that even looked at my chickens. I was wondering the same thing about the momma - where is she? The little ones look too young to just be wandering about on their own. I don't know if you have one in your area, but you might try calling a wildlife rescue. If they are orphaned, they would take them, raise and care for them until they are ready to be on their own, then release them into a safe area. Good luck finding a solution - those faces are just too cute to harm.
Liz

 

[sommrluv]

Baby racoons grow up...and that means parents are somewhere close to.

I'm a little offended...people who kill predators to protect their livestock are not "trigger-happy". There are many places still in our own country, that if the chickens or livestock get killed or injured...that's their only food source.

A much nicer way would be to say that you would prefer not to kill them, not cast judgement on other's preferred method of predator disposal.

 

[la dee da]

Quote:
Diddo. A better title would be something like "Raccoon problem, non lethal advise please"

 

[xyresicchick]

i would call animal control.

raccoons are rabies vector species.

them being out in broad daylight.... to me is a HUGE red flag. they are dusk/nocturnal creatures. normally nocturnal animals will only come out in the day if they have rabies, or something else wrong with them. although they might just be too young to know they shouldn't be awake at that time. like a little kid who stays up late to see what happens after bedtime...

they are very young, and very cute, just be careful. because yes, if there are babies, but they might have something that can make you sick. and babies typically means mommies and daddies being around. you don't want them trying to eat your chickens.

so, like i said before... i would call animal control. they (and the parents) belong several miles away in some woods. not crawling around near your coop foraging for chicken food.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I have to say it.....................they are adorable!

I also have a feeling they are on their own, which would make me a total sucker cause I would want to care for them (or at least keep an eye out for them).

Good Luck