Chickens afraid of coop after raccoon attacks

[pippinainteasy]

I'm losing my chickens at night and I know it's coons. I've reinforced but now they tore part of my roof off to get in last nite. People have suggested letting them roost outside and since yours want to roost in the lilac tree perhaps you should give that a go? Myself since I only have 4 left and they won't go in the trees, well I'm putting them in a smaller coop and tonight I'll be waiting for the predator. I've found that it's usually one that keeps breaking in since I've eliminated alot of them. The war is on!!

I went to tractor supply and got rolls of the green plastic chicken fencing with very small holes and basically lined the inside walls in every possible spot there was a hole or a crack with that. I got them in the coop and got a young rooster from a friend. I snuck him in at night when it was dark. They immediately acclimated to the rooster and have been comfortable ever since. I've been leaving the light on outside of the coop all night also. No attacks since then.

 

[Scooter1A]

I went to tractor supply and got rolls of the green plastic chicken fencing with very small holes and basically lined the inside walls in every possible spot there was a hole or a crack with that. I got them in the coop and got a young rooster from a friend. I snuck him in at night when it was dark. They immediately acclimated to the rooster and have been comfortable ever since. I've been leaving the light on outside of the coop all night also. No attacks since then.

I went to church this morning then mowed grass at the american legion to reset my disturbed mind. Got home and walked around the coop and immediately saw where the evil creatures have or could be coming in. Duh not sure how I missed it. Called my carpenter and we are redoing the roof tomorrow, probably in the rain. My remaining 6 are in the garage tonite....oh boy the things we do. Good luck to us!!!

 

[McChooky]

Thank you! I am in NY and we are having unusually hot weather so I don't think that's helping the situation. They are liking the cool down outside once the sun goes down. I have been tempting them in with corn on the cob and fruit.

If your coop doesn't have enough ventilation or circulation they won't go inside at night. The lowest number of eggs I've ever gotten was when I got 2 this week . The heat index in West Virginia has been unusually high all week.

 

[Scooter1A]

Mine are just now going in at night to the coop with my assistance. Still not laying in the coop but they will. They don't feel safe yet but they will in time. Evidently we fixed the coon access problem and now I have 4 hens and 2 guinea chicks. It's rabbit process day, not my favorite time of the season but it must be done. Gonna get hot here in Illinois this weekend. We've had plenty of rain and the garden looks fantastic!

 

[McChooky]

Mine are just now going in at night to the coop with my assistance. Still not laying in the coop but they will. They don't feel safe yet but they will in time. Evidently we fixed the coon access problem and now I have 4 hens and 2 guinea chicks. It's rabbit process day, not my favorite time of the season but it must be done. Gonna get hot here in Illinois this weekend. We've had plenty of rain and the garden looks fantastic!

My husband and I bought farm out in the country after we got married. It had a big garden spot out front and fruit trees in the back yard. Man oh man that was the life!

 

[McChooky]

I have the opposite problem .2 disappeared while my chickens were out free ranging (shortly after I let them out) Something got them in the middle of the day .They're all scared to death of free ranging now

 

[pippinainteasy]

I have the opposite problem .2 disappeared while my chickens were out free ranging (shortly after I let them out) Something got them in the middle of the day .They're all scared to death of free ranging now

We had that happening one year and it was a fox.

 

[McChooky]

One of my hens was attacked on the wooded hillside out back last fall. She suffered from a broken leg that took 5 months to heal(she didn't have any other injuries)The 2nd attack was this spring shortly after I started free ranging them again. 2 disappeared in this attack so now I put my dogs out when I free range.It had to be more than one the 2nd time

 

[McChooky]

My cats are indoor only and have catios attached to the house so they can go outside anytime they want but my daughter in laws cats are indoor outdoor cats .Some of her cats have gone missing this year.
3 so far!!! I suspect the bob cat might be killing them.Will foxes eat cats?

 

[Kitn]

We lost 14 chickens in just over a week to what we thought was a weasel, until I caught a raccoon in the act. We realized it was getting into the coop at night through a small hole between our barn and the coop. I have secured the coop like crazy, and no more attacks have happened since three days ago. They still go in throughout the day to lay eggs, but won't go in at night until I force them to. They free range during the day from 7am until dusk, and are trying to roost in my lilac tree next to the house. I have had to carry them into the coop the past 2 nights. Any advice? Should I put some exciting snacks in there? Lock them in for a few days? Will they eventually get used to going in again on their own?

I had a mink killed two chickens and a big duck. All my chickens want two Roost in the trees instead of their house. The older four I made them go in and Roost where they normally do.
I had to get the younger ones out of the trees and I put them on my back porch. Now every night they wait by the back door of my house by the porch to go in there. At least I know they're safe. Also the day that they ate my chickens when I came home I'm in the Run and The Mink is on the outside of the Run getting a drink of water when I get out of the chicken run is when he notices me and takes off running. Now this week I'm seeing possums. They don't run they just freeze like you're not going to see them. I caught one possum in a fish net banged him on the concrete and into my door thinking I would knock him out. Nope that did not work.