Big Raccoon problem!

[Ninjasquirrel]

We had 3 raccoons come near our coop. Caught and dispatched them then moved the trap with the bait further away to draw them there. No raccoons have been caught on the game camera since but we have caught 3 more coons since then. I think they bred in the spring and now theres just a lot of them. Ive seen a total of 9 babies and 3 adults. We have caught 3 adults and 3 babies. I suggest a camera for your coop so you can tell if they are coming by. It worked for us!

 

[colette peters]

You’re drawing them in with the block that most likely has molasses in it.

In every photo they are going to a food supply which Is that sweet seed block. That’s the problem.

 

[Joev1973]

Its not a sweet block its mineral salt from tractor supply. The food on the ground was corn. The food. (Corn) was out before the coop existed or chicks arrived.

The First couple days we moved in we kept seeing deer in driveway / yard so I dumped corn in the yard to see how many deer we could get to visit.

First evening a.fox showed up as well as raccoons.

These were taken with my cell phone on the porch (not a trail cam)

After seeing what showed up besides deer the chicken coop plans were altered from dirt floor to concrete and chicken wire to hardware cloth.

Should I not have dumped corn in the yard the coop would be done with chicken wire and have a dirt floor. So I am glad about the corn it let me see exactly what was in the yard and beef up security in construction of a coop.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Its not a sweet block its mineral salt from tractor supply. The food on the ground was corn. The food. (Corn) was out before the coop existed or chicks arrived.

View attachment 1843648

The First couple days we moved in we kept seeing deer in driveway / yard so I dumped corn in the yard to see how many deer we could get to visit.

View attachment 1843661

First evening a.fox showed up as well as raccoons.

These were taken with my cell phone on the porch (not a trail cam)

View attachment 1843652 View attachment 1843649

After seeing what showed up besides deer the chicken coop plans were altered from dirt floor to concrete and chicken wire to hardware cloth.

View attachment 1843656

Should I not have dumped corn in the yard the coop would be done with chicken wire and have a dirt floor. So I am glad about the corn it let me see exactly what was in the yard and beef up security in construction of a coop.

I understand what you’re saying but you’re still drawing them into the yard with the corn. If the corn pile wasn’t there you would not have a picture of a gray fox and raccoons eating the corn.
Corn drew them in, you added the salt lick and then doubled down with the other block ( that block is a sweet block and absolutely not a salt lick and the residue on the ground will continue to draw animals for a long time after it’s gone). As for beefing up the coop well everyone should know by now not to use chicken wire as the only means of protection.
I totally understand the bait was for deer but the unintended consequences has been drawing in animals that will also be interested in eating chickens. Plus that bait is like 20-30 yds from your house and can’t be far from the coop.
To each their own.

 

[Jacktoo]

Hi all!
So after 8 days and 21 raccoons caught and killed, this morning I woke up no coons!!!their were no coons in traps or near my coop, all my critters were save not one was hurt or taken. But also yesterday I came home, and my rooster was not looking well. He was in the corner of the inside coop not wanting to move. I tried picking him up and he just laid back down until I looked under his butt feathers. He had maggots all over him not a good site to see. I was so surprise and at the same time not sure what to do. I looked it up and it turned out it was Flystrike, in other words the flies will lay eggs in his poopy feathers and then they will hatch into maggots. I know this is something you just don’t want to hear, but this happens to chickens. I think he was dealing with this for a while but I was not sure. It has been a really hot and very wet around here, also I’ve noticed he’s been eating the turkey and duck food which is very high in protein this could’ve caused him to have watery poop. I had noticed there was poop on his bum feathers but normally chickens sometimes have that. What I seen yesterday I would not have thought that could’ve happened. I had no time to save him he was barely breathing and the maggots were eating him up alive. The only thing I wanted done was for him not to suffer anymore. So yesterday I had to bury my rooster.

 

[Joev1973]

I understand what you’re saying but you’re still drawing them into the yard with the corn. If the corn pile wasn’t there you would not have a picture of a gray fox and raccoons eating the corn.
Corn drew them in, you added the salt lick and then doubled down with the other block ( that block is a sweet block and absolutely not a salt lick and the residue on the ground will continue to draw animals for a long time after it’s gone). As for beefing up the coop well everyone should know by now not to use chicken wire as the only means of protection.
I totally understand the bait was for deer but the unintended consequences has been drawing in animals that will also be interested in eating chickens. Plus that bait is like 20-30 yds from your house and can’t be far from the coop.
To each their own.

The first pictures with bait were taken when we moved in around may 15. The peeps didnt arrive until around june 15 and coop construction didnt start until around the same time.

The only thing left in the yard is remenants of a salt block that the rain worked away at.

You know the same could be said about gardens, birdfeeders even garbage cans, dog food or even chicken feed. The animals are out there regardless. My yard is full of rasberrys black berrys walnuts Heck my 1 and only neighbor has honey bee boxes and blue berry bushs with a dozen chickens (mainly roosters) who have no coop or pen. The first thing he told me when i mentioned building a coop was the amount of predators I will deal with.

The couple that sold me this house has a massive bird feeding operation just off the porch. Sunflower seeds corn millet suet even water.

The food is everywhere

Seeing them in broad daylight was an eye opener for me. I should add I lived my whole life in Ohio where a fox wouldnt dare peek out until night.

Moving to Tennessee is kind of a different beast all together.

 

[Joev1973]

You know what guus. No more hijacking this guys raccoon thread.

Hope you get them all cleared out man. Hope your birds do well

 

[roosterhavoc]

The first pictures with bait were taken when we moved in around may 15. The peeps didnt arrive until around june 15 and coop construction didnt start until around the same time.

The only thing left in the yard is remenants of a salt block that the rain worked away at.

You know the same could be said about gardens, birdfeeders even garbage cans, dog food or even chicken feed. The animals are out there regardless. My yard is full of rasberrys black berrys walnuts Heck my 1 and only neighbor has honey bee boxes and blue berry bushs with a dozen chickens (mainly roosters) who have no coop or pen. The first thing he told me when i mentioned building a coop was the amount of predators I will deal with.

The couple that sold me this house has a massive bird feeding operation just off the porch. Sunflower seeds corn millet suet even water.

The food is everywhere

Seeing them in broad daylight was an eye opener for me. I should add I lived my whole life in Ohio where a fox wouldnt dare peek out until night.

Moving to Tennessee is kind of a different beast all together.

Good luck

 

[colette peters]

I understand what you’re saying but you’re still drawing them into the yard with the corn. If the corn pile wasn’t there you would not have a picture of a gray fox and raccoons eating the corn.
Corn drew them in, you added the salt lick and then doubled down with the other block ( that block is a sweet block and absolutely not a salt lick and the residue on the ground will continue to draw animals for a long time after it’s gone). As for beefing up the coop well everyone should know by now not to use chicken wire as the only means of protection.
I totally understand the bait was for deer but the unintended consequences has been drawing in animals that will also be interested in eating chickens. Plus that bait is like 20-30 yds from your house and can’t be far from the coop.
To each their own.

Agree 100%

 

[NewBoots]

I had no time to save him he was barely breathing and the maggots were eating him up alive. The only thing I wanted done was for him not to suffer anymore. So yesterday I had to bury my rooster.

I'm so sorry for your loss.