Feeding chickens raccoons

[Doode67]

I have noticed I have raccoons wandering around and I don't want them around my chickens.

I was thinking of shooting them but then that seems like a waste. So I was thinking of capturing them then shooting them during the day so the chickens can feed on the raccoon.

Is there any issues with feeding chickens raccoon?

Not for the chickens, but I would imagine that the raccoons are not too happy about it.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

I plan on doing this but I plan on cooking whatever I catch for my birds.

 

[Susan1234]

sI have noticed I have raccoons wandering around and I don't want them around my chickens.

I was thinking of shooting them but then that seems like a waste. So I was thinking of capturing them then shooting them during the day so the chickens can feed on the raccoon.

Is there any issues with feeding chickens raccoon?

I have lots of raccoons around because i feed them cheap dog food. they eat right along with my chickens, tho my chickens do give them a wide birth. And they do clean up all the leftovers in the evening after the chickens have gone to bed. The only time I had a raccoon kill one of my chickens was when I accidently locked one in the coop with the chickens. He did kill and eat one of the chickens before I heard the commotion and let him out.PS, my chickens are free roamers during the day. That is my experience, just sharing.

 

[bearcreekbees]

We have a guy that hunts raccoons on our farm every Fall. He has given me some of the skinned/gutted carcasses, which I put in a crockpot to cook for a couple of days, then fed to my chickens over a period of days until they are gone.

Seeing as how raccoons have eaten a lot of my chickens over the years this seems like a fair trade to me.

 

[nuthatched]

I have lots of raccoons around because i feed them cheap dog food. they eat right along with my chickens, tho my chickens do give them a wide birth. And they do clean up all the leftovers in the evening after the chickens have gone to bed. The only time I had a raccoon kill one of my chickens was when I accidently locked one in the coop with the chickens. He did kill and eat one of the chickens before I heard the commotion and let him out.PS, my chickens are free roamers during the day. That is my experience, just sharing.

You really shouldn't be encouraging coons to stick around, it's not good to get wildlife dependent on people and used to them. They also carry parasites and diseases that you and your dogs can get.

 

[Shawn66]

Not for the chickens, but I would imagine that the raccoons are not too happy about it.

I have had both racoons and skunks over the 20+ years I have had chickens. I live catch and transport them about 14 miles away to an area that has a good ecosystem for them. I then release them there and they are on their own. My Coop is not their buffet.

 

[nancypo]

I have noticed I have raccoons wandering around and I don't want them around my chickens.

I was thinking of shooting them but then that seems like a waste. So I was thinking of capturing them then shooting them during the day so the chickens can feed on the raccoon.

Is there any issues with feeding chickens raccoon?

Diseases. If there's a local wildlife rehab place/Federal fish and wildlife office, you might contact them and see if they can be relocated instead of killed. They do a really good job of eating different things that can be pests

 

[BabesDucks]

I have noticed I have raccoons wandering around and I don't want them around my chickens.

I was thinking of shooting them but then that seems like a waste. So I was thinking of capturing them then shooting them during the day so the chickens can feed on the raccoon.

Is there any issues with feeding chickens raccoon?

Wildlife rehabber in training here. There are enormous dangers with feeding raccoons to your birds. They carry a parasite that can get into their (or your or any other animals) bodies, making its way to their brain and driving them mad. Not trying to scare you but this is very ill advised! They also carry SO many other diseases. This is just not a good idea at all.

Keep them AWAY as this parasite can be transmitted through their feces. If one of your birds accidentally sticks their beak/bill into raccoon poo (which we all know is possible), it might not end well at all for any involved.

 

[realid]

Drowning is not a humane way to kill an animal. And just because a racoon is on your property does not mean that it is going to attack your chickens.

Yes, the racoon will attack your chickens if the chickens are not 100% secure. If the raccoon gets in with the chickens, it will kill until there are no more chickens left or it gets tired. Same with fox. Same with skunk, Same with weasel.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

I have had both racoons and skunks over the 20+ years I have had chickens. I live catch and transport them about 14 miles away to an area that has a good ecosystem for them. I then release them there and they are on their own. My Coop is not their buffet.

Catch-transport-release is actually illegal where I am.