Anyone have any fox or racoon detterring methods?

[MINDANAO DAVE]

Lots of foxes racoons where i live and i was wondering if there was something (plant maybe?) that i could have around that they like to stay away from? I haven't had any problems yet but a hawk, but i saw a fox last week and a dead raccoon by the side of the road. Very nervous. I have an electric fence which i heard has turned back black bears, but i'm still concerned. Any advice?

Leave a radio on inside the coop or put a baby monitor in the coop.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Anyone know how to trap foxes and coyotes? I've used a havahart type trap for coons, which worked pretty well.

There are numerous videos on the WWW that will teach you how to pinch the toes of these poultry assassins. A strong coop is a big help but at the end of the day a combination of coop, runs, pens, fences, plus lowering all the fox or coyote's in your neighborhood body temperature to room temperature works best.

 

[MINDANAO DAVE]

Lots of foxes racoons where i live and i was wondering if there was something (plant maybe?) that i could have around that they like to stay away from? I haven't had any problems yet but a hawk, but i saw a fox last week and a dead raccoon by the side of the road. Very nervous. I have an electric fence which i heard has turned back black bears, but i'm still concerned. Any advice?

Put a baby monitor in the coop or sometimes leave a radio on inside the coop helps. Good Luck if you are seeing them it is a matter of time before they visit.

 

[Chickie pants]

I have has all kinds of trouble with hawks and coons, so it over do for me to build and predator-proof run. Coons are a really cool animal, but they don't get a pass in my yard. I've been running a radio for the past 2 months 24/7 I think that might help.

 

[Leighe]

And don't confuse "chicken wire" with hardware cloth. Chicken wire won't keep anything out. Hardware cloth will not only cut you to death, lol, but will make it VERY hard for raccoon hands to grab. The only time a raccoon got my animals (rabbits) was because they were in cages in a covered dog kennel. The raccoon came up, pulled the chain link open with his hands, walked in and opened two cages and killed the rabbits. Put hardware cloth on that kennel and everything else I owned and have never dealt with another raccoon......I too put the hardware cloth 2 feet out away from pens and kennels and use those garden stakes to hold them in the ground. Some I've covered with dirt but the ones I havent, I can't even get the stinkin garden stakes up anymore, lol

 

[centrarchid]

I use a combination of methods which essential with birds so dispersed as they are. With raccoons and foxs, the last line of defense is the roost being high and hard to reach. The second line is the structure / coop birds are housed in. The first line of defense is hotwire or chicken wire (I often use both). Live traps are out for raccoons much of the time. The traps are inside and outside the fence perimeter in locations I suspect the bad guys are likely to approach from. Dogs, the most expensive part, flow between coops and to beyond the perimeter provided by the hotwire. Hotwire placement is critical and can make even chicken wire a deal breaker for raccoon trying to beat your pens.

 

[Leighe]

If you purchase a game camera, you can actually see whats roamin your area at night and that can help. I also have guardian dogs and they really deter anything from comin up too close. Like the idea of @centrarchid having traps set up already. Just be sure to close them during the day so you don't catch all the other curious cats, dogs, hens, roosters.

 

[centrarchid]

If you purchase a game camera, you can actually see whats roamin your area at night and that can help. I also have guardian dogs and they really deter anything from comin up too close. Like the idea of @centrarchid having traps set up already. Just be sure to close them during the day so you don't catch all the other curious cats, dogs, hens, roosters.

I run traps daily. Cats learn them. Only young chickens and hens finding trouble with good nest sites get caught and it is not daily.

 

[Chickie pants]

Does anyone have a good pic of hot wire set up? Thinking of trying it out.

 

[Howard E]

This is what I use.

Keeps the varmints out and hard to believe, also keeps the birds in. One of the Wyandotts got zapped the other day and was running around the yard like something was stinging her........like a bumble bee or something. What got her was the fence. They have to learn what it is and where it is, but once they do, they stay away from it.......as do the varmints.