help

[chcikensarefun]

We went out this morning to let the older chickens out and found blood and feathers everywhere. Opened the coop to 14 younger chicks - got them in the spring - all were dead. Their heads tore off. There were 2 gone the rest were just slaughtered. We saw a coon in the backyard 4-5 days ago, figure that's what did it. Will amonia around the coop keep them away, at least until we can get some traps or get electric hooked to the wire netting?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

We went out this morning to let the older chickens out and found blood and feathers everywhere. Opened the coop to 14 younger chicks - got them in the spring - all were dead. Their heads tore off. There were 2 gone the rest were just slaughtered. We saw a coon in the backyard 4-5 days ago, figure that's what did it. Will amonia around the coop keep them away, at least until we can get some traps or get electric hooked to the wire netting?

Unfortunately, now that a successful meal has been had, the only reliable fix is going to be to address the points of entry that would have been used. Were the 14 lost the entire group? Is this the only coop you have and, if not, are the others constructed in the same way?

 

[chcikensarefun]

The 14 were not the entire group, they were the young ones we were waiting to get bigger before introducing them in with the 12 hens that are 1.5yr. Yes the coups are designed the same way. We found where it got in the little ones coup. It tried digging into the other coup too. We can see where it was digging the ground at the door. That is where I was going to put the amonia around the door and that perimeter of the coup. They are free range, we had something get one of the big hens during the day about a month ago. We figured it was a coyote or a fox, have a few of them around too. What should I do with the carcass, there are 10. I was going to through them over the hillside in the woods, but then thought that might attract other cridders.

 

[coleco]

Ammonia is a natural product of animal waste and will likely not deter a raccoon. What will deter them is making the task much more difficult, attach fence or something hard to lift or dig through to create a perimiter around the ground around the coop. They wont dig forever to get to your chickens.

Raccoons also do not like red eyes in the dark or motion activated lights.

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry for your loss. Only a secure coop will protect your birds; REBUILD!!! ASAP!!! Also, set live traps and plan to kill those raccoons who have discovered your flock, because they will be back with friends and family until it's done. No scent or flashing lights will discourage a determined predator for long, so spend money and effort on the coop instead. Mary