Ameraucana thread for posting pictures and discussing our birds

[bruceha2000]

My sister in law had a coon that they kept in the house. Cool little animals, very personable, but they sure don't belong in a house! They eventually released it near a lake when it was much older to live it's coon life, but, it was a likeable addition to the family.
I agree with the trapping, but I've seen animals go through some pretty horrific death throws even with a shot to the head, so I dread when I have to do that (animal is suffering). If I have a live trap I would use it for what it's made for, catch and release and hope it isn't nursing babies somewhere. Take that animal to the woods near a creek and it will live a raccoon life as it should. Everything has a purpose.

Or be killed by the raccoon's territory it "invaded".

 

[Saris]

I'm sorry I caused upset with what I said about the raccoon, but in my area I'm limited on what I can do. I plan on trying to figure out if I can does the bait with some sleep aid or something to knock the raccoon out. If successful then I will remove the raccoon from it's cage and kill it more quickly. I don't like to kill things, but this raccoon now knows where my chicks are, and my other chickens and coons are very smart, it will figure out how to get back in. I'm working on two things now, reinforcing my coop and trapping this raccoon. Maybe me chasing it down the road scared it enough that it won't come back, but I doubt that it will stay away for long. I appreciate your suggestions and support. I will do my best to put down the raccoon in the most humane way I can, but I will be putting it down if it I trap it.

 

[pips&peeps]

I'm sorry I caused upset with what I said about the raccoon, but in my area I'm limited on what I can do. I plan on trying to figure out if I can does the bait with some sleep aid or something to knock the raccoon out. If successful then I will remove the raccoon from it's cage and kill it more quickly. I don't like to kill things, but this raccoon now knows where my chicks are, and my other chickens and coons are very smart, it will figure out how to get back in. I'm working on two things now, reinforcing my coop and trapping this raccoon. Maybe me chasing it down the road scared it enough that it won't come back, but I doubt that it will stay away for long. I appreciate your suggestions and support. I will do my best to put down the raccoon in the most humane way I can, but I will be putting it down if it I trap it.

That is best. It is harder on the animal to relocate because it will be in another's territory and can starve to death or get terribly injured and die a slow painful death. And, you don't want to make it someone else's problem.

 

[jenniferlamar70]

REALLY sorry for the trauma you and your birds suffered.  

I agree, I do not have the skills to shoot an animal "on the run", or even "on the sit". But they are really hard to miss in a Havahart trap.

Air pellet guns are not considered "firearms" in many cities, especially in the .117 size. Yet they can carry a pellet a good distance so I am a bit surprised they are NOT considered firearms. I bought a Gamo "Bone Collector" air rifle the day the coon killed Fae. Still in the plastic bag in the box when I trapped the coon in the coop. Took 3 shots but without any iron sights and having no idea how straight it was shooting, even at 10 feet or less, it was hard to know where I hit it. The coon moved between each shot (single shot, the pellets were 30' away on a table). On the other hand, the adult chuck that I trapped in the havahart in the barn alley died fast and I would guess painlessly. Inches from the barrel of the gun and through the forehead. No more woodchuck tunnels opened into the alley floor since. 

If you find you CAN use air pellet guns in the city, use heavy pellets. There are reviews that say the Bone Collector is as loud as a .22 rim fire. But those people are using lightweight pellets that break the sound barrier. I bought the Gamo Whisper pellets, 10.5 grain. When I later mounted the scope and started to learn the gun, the smack when the pellet buried into the 3/4" particle board backstop 40' away was louder than the gun. I suspect you could fire that outside someone's bedroom window and they wouldn't hear it.


Do they tell people they "rehome" the vermin ALIVE? I'm willing to bet even if they say it, they don't do it. It is illegal ANYWHERE in Vermont to "rehome" a coon and we have a lot of unpopulated land.


Because relocating is illegal in a lot of places.

It may be illegal in alot of places but not everywhere and I'm a long ways from Vermont. If it's legal I don't see what everyone's problem is with it. I bit of a blood lust I guess. I also can't imagine anything would prefer to be dead over being relocated to the woods if that's an option. I'm glad I live where I do. If an animal kills your chickens you shoot it or rehome it. No neighbors are stupid enough to feed the wild animals. Everyone mind their business. If a shoot a bobcat or relocate it no one sais anything. I would hate to have to live the other way...

That is best.  It is harder on the animal to relocate because it will be in another's territory and can starve to death or get terribly injured and die a slow painful death.  And, you don't want to make it someone else's problem.

Where we live they don't become someone else's problem because they are relocated into the woods.. but if that wasn't an option I would shoot it for sure. I think of my chickens as my babies and I have to protect them.

 

[lakones]

I'm sorry I caused upset with what I said about the raccoon, but in my area I'm limited on what I can do. I plan on trying to figure out if I can does the bait with some sleep aid or something to knock the raccoon out. If successful then I will remove the raccoon from it's cage and kill it more quickly. I don't like to kill things, but this raccoon now knows where my chicks are, and my other chickens and coons are very smart, it will figure out how to get back in. I'm working on two things now, reinforcing my coop and trapping this raccoon. Maybe me chasing it down the road scared it enough that it won't come back, but I doubt that it will stay away for long. I appreciate your suggestions and support. I will do my best to put down the raccoon in the most humane way I can, but I will be putting it down if it I trap it.

We do what we have to do to protect the ones we are in charge of, not because we like to do it. It's just part of our responsibility to our flock since they cannot protect themselves. You do the best you can in your situation. Best of luck to you!

 

[Chicken5555]

We do what we have to do to protect the ones we are in charge of, not because we like to do it. It's just part of our responsibility to our flock since they cannot protect themselves. You do the best you can in your situation. Best of luck to you!

x2

 

[Chicken5555]

@samouw

https://www.facebook.com/knittymom/videos/vb.100001839548306/1129352073802767/?type=3&theater

Here is Garfunkel showing off for the ladies. My husband is planning a second coop and run so that he can be with the wheaten/blue wheaten girls I plan on buying from you in the Spring.

 

[samouw]

@samouw

https://www.facebook.com/knittymom/videos/vb.100001839548306/1129352073802767/?type=3&theater

Here is Garfunkel showing off for the ladies. My husband is planning a second coop and run so that he can be with the wheaten/blue wheaten girls I plan on buying from you in the Spring.

He's doing a great job! That's awesome about the new coop, too

 

[Sylvester017]

So sorry @Saris . That really stinks. It makes me mad to hear about predators that kill a bunch of livestock only to leave uneaten bodies.

I get that they have to eat and that's why they come around but why are they just killing. I hope you get the little bugger (want to use a different term but it's not appropriate). Hope the rest of the flock is doing okay.

Raccoons are notorious for killing just for the thrill of the chase and to eliminate other animals from infringing on their feeding territory - and - in the coon's pea-brain - eliminating and killing chickens off is part of the 'coon's thinking process to save more foraging territory for themselves. The more animals they kill/maim the more food territory the raccoons think they are saving for themselves. Nasty little rascals! 'Coons love to eat bird eggs -- stupid critters don't understand that in killing chickens they kill off their egg food supply too!!! In Japan the American raccoons were imported as pets when Japan had a popular raccoon cartoon show. Once Japanese owners couldn't handle their grown adult pet raccoons any more they turned them loose. Over the last few decades the Japanese' wild raccoon population has reached epidemic proportions. They've invaded and destroyed Japan's landmarks, temples, and homes. Japan has a national edict to eradicate/kill-off the invasive non-indigenous pest. The raccoons are not so cute to the Japanese any more.

 

[lomine]

Raccoons are notorious for killing just for the thrill of the chase and to eliminate other animals from infringing on their feeding territory - and - in the coon's pea-brain - eliminating and killing chickens off is part of the 'coon's thinking process to save more foraging territory for themselves. The more animals they kill/maim the more food territory the raccoons think they are saving for themselves. Nasty little rascals! 'Coons love to eat bird eggs -- stupid critters don't understand that in killing chickens they kill off their egg food supply too!!! In Japan the American raccoons were imported as pets when Japan had a popular raccoon cartoon show. Once Japanese owners couldn't handle their grown adult pet raccoons any more they turned them loose. Over the last few decades the Japanese' wild raccoon population has reached epidemic proportions. They've invaded and destroyed Japan's landmarks, temples, and homes. Japan has a national edict to eradicate/kill-off the invasive non-indigenous pest. The raccoons are not so cute to the Japanese any more.

Didn't the same thing happen in Europe? Yeah, I used to think they were cute (still do a little) but I definitely look at them differently now that I have a flock to protect.