Fed up to HERE!!!

[Melly-Mae]

We have an over abundance of raccoons here and the nursing mommas are desperate for food. I’m assuming this was the work of a crafty coon. Do you all agree? My poor babies are apparently their goal. I lost two more last night. If they would have went inside to roost they would have been fine, but for some reason they chose to stay outside in the chicken tractor. It looks like it pulled the chick right through the wire and ate the first one. The second one was left in the tractor but it’s leg was pulled off and it bled to death. Then a third baby (any thoughts on breed?) had it’s toe bitten off. I’m so frustrated.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Probably,I’d set a few trap cages up,rather kill their babies then them kill yours,and in a few weeks set cages up for the babies Incase their old enough to hunt,you can call a animal control or relocate them yourself,or shoot them.

 

[llombardo]

I can't look at the pictures, but what kind of wire is it? Is it possible to make them go in where it's safe for them? On occasion mine want to stay out and roost but I make them go in.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

One thing you can do is put smaller wire on there so at least they can't reach through and grab the birds.

The second thing you can do is set a trap... Just be ready to deal with whatever you catch.

 

[Thyme4Chickens]

I'm so sorry for your losses.

In addition to covering every opening with 1/2 hardware cloth, have you considered electric poultry netting? You can move that around when you move the tractor.

 

[dotporter]

So sorry for your loss. Wrap the outside of the fence with deer net. It's cheap enough, and since it's flimsy, coons can't climb it, and they can't reach through it. You have to peg down the bottom edge to keep them from lifting it up though.

 

[BirdGirl2004]

Aww man! That stinks... SO frustrating
Instead of chicken wire, I would get hardware cloth like Thyme4Chickens suggested. It's more durable, and they can't get there little paws through it! make sure you secure it too. Another option, could be electrical fencing. I bought electrical fencing from premier 1, and it's worked wonders. We live in a very predator heavy area, and sometimes I leave the chickens out during the night because i have the chicken fence on, and nothing can get through. It's very light and easy to move, but will zap anything that comes into contact with it. I have a battery hooked up to mine. You can get the chicken fence as small as you like. A small one can look like this:

A larger one like this:

I have one of the bigger fences, and I have a mobile chicken coop made from an old trailer. I move the fence and coop weekly, and it takes very little time. It was well with the price. Not only will it keep out predators, but it will keep the chicken from getting out too.
As for your pesky raccoons, I would try and trap them and either set them free somewhere FAR away from your place ( if your not into trapping and killing.) I personally would trap them and kill them to ensure that them nor there babies could get into my chickadees!
Hope this helps!

 

[Thyme4Chickens]

@BirdGirl2004 - nice pics! That's the fence we have, too.

 

[BirdGirl2004]

@BirdGirl2004 - nice pics! That's the fence we have, too.

Yea, they are great to have around!

 

[Melly-Mae]

That fence looks like exactly what I need!!! We have already trapped three. A big male and two nursing moms. We short the male, relocated one female and when we went to shoot the second female, Murphy intervened and she somehow escaped. I’ll be resetting all three live traps tonight. Thank you for showing me the fence you were talking about! It’s on my “to get” list