Feeding chickens raccoons

[NewcoopNewpoop]

Rabies issues?

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

You don't let your chickens eat bugs?

That's ONE way to read that statement.

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

You don't let your chickens eat bugs?

I don't free range my flock so, no, they don't get many bugs. There are way too many predators here to risk my ladies to their teeth and claws, so what I did was build a predator-proof run that gives them about 20+ sq ft per chook. Now I doubt it would withstand a bear attack or anything like that, but it does keep out the deer, possums, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, local dogs, coyotes, winged visitors, chipmunks, voles, etc. And my ladies do seem content, so I don't feel too guilty keeping them confined. I just tell myself it's for their own good.

I wasn't always so protective--until a pack of dogs & coyotes slaughtered my flock of buff rocks a few years back. It was so bloody that I had to tear down the whole setup. When I finally got the nerve to rebuild I swore never again, so I've probably way overbuilt. Still haven't found a cure for the blasted snakes, tho!

 

[No Coop No Problem]

Rabies issues?

Mammalian virus. No rabid birds out there

 

[2eggsfried]

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?

I have raccoons that come to my house most nights and eat any leftover cat food. I've never had a problem with bothering my chickens. Although I have them fence in and don't let them free range, as I also have seen coyotes around. But I'm a big believer in not killing animals, if at all possible.

 

[Chickenberg Goldenegg]

Hopefully you are just seeing them at night. Seeing them during usually indicates they have rabies.

Birds can't get rabies but I don't think I would feed mine a raccoon.
When we see one during the day we just kill it and bury it in the woods.

It's mainly at night by my motion sensor light.

Then when I scare them out from a hiding spot with a power tool.

 

[nuthatched]

Again, not true. I mix DE with pureed carrots (obviously wet) and it works like a champ.

Have you ever had a fecal float done, before and after?
I do have a dozen or so peer reviewed studies from multiple countries that state that it doesn't work, never found any studies that say otherwise.
Soooo.....
You only see worms when there's no more room in the bird, as long as the numbers stay low, you'll never see them.

 

[NewcoopNewpoop]

Mammalian virus. No rabid birds out there

What about rabies to chicken egg transfer?

 

[TOMTE]

What about rabies to chicken egg transfer?

Eggs won't be affected, because it's a mammalian virus

 

[TOMTE]

Have you ever had a fecal float done, before and after?
I do have a dozen or so peer reviewed studies from multiple countries that state that it doesn't work, never found any studies that say otherwise.
Soooo.....
You only see worms when there's no more room in the bird, as long as the numbers stay low, you'll never see them.

I will say, in another thread (so sorry I can't remember it off the top of my head) somebody did post a link to a study about the effects of supplementing DE in chicken feed. Iirc the findings were that it did lower the gut load of parasites, but I don't remember specifics— ratio of DE to food, length of time administering it, etc. This was a couple months ago I think that I came across it.

I personally don't think it's a reliable wormer but obviously there has been some success... I only wish I could find that thread so I could share it here. It was an interesting read.