Chicken attacked by raccoon, shock (warning graphic pictures)

[rockymountain]

Well last night the raccoon didn't return. Tonight I set a trap, with cat food and a piece of chicken in side of the coop. I decided it is best to kill this chicken killer and will deal with the pen later on where it is getting in. As I have mentioned after eighteen years being here I only seen raccoons three times. As most of the predators, coyotes, cougars, etc. out there take them out. I live in a higher mountain range. I did hear in town there is a real bad problem with coons this year.

 

[rockymountain]

I don't have any pictures of head injuries and those head injuries I have dealt with haven't been as sever as your hens.
This for example took a couple of months before he fully regrew the feathers that got ripped out. Stiches for the wound out after a week,

I figured if she survives this will take along time to heal. I guess a learning situation as the scalp is pretty bald and her crown is badly damaged. I am guessing will eventually fall off, as this is what I have heard with freezing and is pretty black. Just not sure on her back of her head doesn't seem to have anything there, not sure will happen on this part. She is doing better and getting stronger. Learning experience for me as well if anyone out there experiences something like this might help.

 

[rockymountain]

I figured if she survives this will take along time to heal. I guess a learning situation as the scalp is pretty bald and her crown is badly damaged. I am guessing will eventually fall off, as this is what I have heard with freezing and is pretty black. Just not sure on her back of her head doesn't seem to have anything there, not sure will happen on this part. She is doing better and getting stronger. Learning experience for me as well if anyone out there experiences something like this might help.

I have to explain, if she was just dieing a slow death I would put her down. She is showing just the opposite of being a fighter. She is eating really well now walking around, no brain damage is seen. I just feel if she wants to live I will try my best on taking care of her. Honestly I don't see any major pain with her only if I try to touch certain parts such as her chest, or putting ointment on her causes her some irritation with me. One day at a time and will keep monitoring if this is all worth her recovery. Very traumatizing for me. Now I am working on getting the raccoon taken out, and getting the coop and run safe for my other two chickens that have no injuries to be returned to. They hat the dog pen and being locked up in the garage. My husband want the raccoon dead and doesn't want to wait any longer. I was just trying to figure out how it is getting in. We have a very large coop that adjoins another coop that was for our ducks at one time. With two runs joined. So frustrating as it looks so secure.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Chickens can recover from severe injuries. It's going to take time, but you may be surprised how well the skin closes and she feathers in.
Sounds like she's holding her own. She's eating and walking around. Her eyes are working!
Take it day by day. As long as the wounds don't get infected, she's got a really good chance of coming through this o.k.

Do you happen to have a game camera or security camera you can set up to monitor the coop? I have a security camera, but it doesn't see all, so I fill in the gaps by moving around a game cam. It's very helpful in trying to figure out entry points (if any) and it actually reveals what's coming around too.

 

[rockymountain]

Chickens can recover from severe injuries. It's going to take time, but you may be surprised how well the skin closes and she feathers in.
Sounds like she's holding her own. She's eating and walking around. Her eyes are working!
Take it day by day. As long as the wounds don't get infected, she's got a really good chance of coming through this o.k.

Do you happen to have a game camera or security camera you can set up to monitor the coop? I have a security camera, but it doesn't see all, so I fill in the gaps by moving around a game cam. It's very helpful in trying to figure out entry points (if any) and it actually reveals what's coming around too.

Yes I moved the gam cam around last night to view the area where I saw that dug from one coop to the other inside the coop which is strange. I walked all around and can't find the access. I am guessing possible roof entry. I did set up a trap cage, haven't checked to see if I caught the coon yet. The chicken is looking better each day. This morning she was standing and wide eye and was happy to see me.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Yay hope she's gets well I'll be praying for her!!!

 

[fuzzi]

Hope your hen continues to improve.

 

[rockymountain]

Just checked the trap, no raccoon. It did get in there and ate the piece of chicken and some cat food I must not of set it correctly, bummer. I will move my gam cab to the cage and will reset tonight and test. The coon weight should of set it off. The cage is made to catch fox.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Could be roof access, they can squeeze through much smaller spaces than you think.
I knew I thought I had seen one in my run last year, but thought No Way! So I set the cam up and sure enough, a very large male Racoon was squeezing and squirming through a gap above a doorway. I fixed that gap and trapped him. He was large and heavy and just looking at him you would have never even guessed he could've went in where he did. The thing is I really didn't have any issues at all until last year, that gap has been there for years.

It's a battle. Keep working at it, you'll find the entry point. Even if you fix that one, they will test your efforts to keep them out.

 

[rockymountain]

Could be roof access, they can squeeze through much smaller spaces than you think.
I knew I thought I had seen one in my run last year, but thought No Way! So I set the cam up and sure enough, a very large male Racoon was squeezing and squirming through a gap above a doorway. I fixed that gap and trapped him. He was large and heavy and just looking at him you would have never even guessed he could've went in where he did. The thing is I really didn't have any issues at all until last year, that gap has been there for years.

It's a battle. Keep working at it, you'll find the entry point. Even if you fix that one, they will test your efforts to keep them out.

I am guessing the roof as well. I am so bummed I couldn't catch last night. I do have some thoughts. As you mentioned an opening by the gate. We found this to which had a gap about six inches to the left of the gate at the roof. We secured this as well as well the whole second run has been secured off from the first run. I can't get into this. We were mainly trying to secure the first run off the main coop house. Now I am thinking we might of locked the coon in there. We have a duck coop that is open with a dog house in it. I am now thinking we locked the coon in there and hiding in the dog coop. Only reason as after my chickens were killed and after we secured. The coon dug a hole from one coop to the other inside. The hole was not dug and present when I found my dead chickens. Anyway I am setting the trap again hopefully I catch her. The bummer is we will have to take down all the protection we put up in the second run to see if the coon is hiding out in the dog house which we can not see inside as it is inside the coop. This would explain the sudden hole in the ground between each coop suddenly. Or we just still have an opening the coon is getting in with most likely from the roof.