I built two fish ponds and stocked them with mosquito fish, goldfish, and some Koi. The raccoons came for dinner every night, and also destroyed the pond plants. They even pulled away the chicken wire I used to cover the ponds in an effort to keep some goldfish. I was left with just the mosquito fish.
Then I got chickens, and was very careful building for security. When the flock was still small and fairly young, I bought some Night Guard units ("what the heck, maybe these things will work").
I don't care WHAT people say about "raccoons are color blind," "why not just put up some blinking Xmas lights," and other snarky comments. I have NOT had any predation on the chickens AND I have been able to keep goldfish in the ponds again. Plus, there's no evidence of night-time raccoon visits, either. I don't need to use chicken wire on the ponds.
I've had my Nite Guard units for over a year, now. Still blinking merrily away in the night. Because I'm enlarging the run perimeter, I'm going to buy some more - and there's another product that does the same thing, but has two red blinking lights on each unit. I might try a couple of those, too. But I know the originals work.
Then I got chickens, and was very careful building for security. When the flock was still small and fairly young, I bought some Night Guard units ("what the heck, maybe these things will work").
I don't care WHAT people say about "raccoons are color blind," "why not just put up some blinking Xmas lights," and other snarky comments. I have NOT had any predation on the chickens AND I have been able to keep goldfish in the ponds again. Plus, there's no evidence of night-time raccoon visits, either. I don't need to use chicken wire on the ponds.
I've had my Nite Guard units for over a year, now. Still blinking merrily away in the night. Because I'm enlarging the run perimeter, I'm going to buy some more - and there's another product that does the same thing, but has two red blinking lights on each unit. I might try a couple of those, too. But I know the originals work.