how long until racoons give up on getting into coop?

[Loving my girls]

We have a large complete dog and I move the poops from the original position to around the perimeter of the fence where the grass has been trampled. I am pretty sure it works to keep stray dogs and foxes away.

Can you borrow a dog for a while ? Perhaps the initial confrontation would be enough to keep them away

although …
Between you and me, four raccoons attacking my girls ? I’d contact my neighbour (update - sorry I thought this emoji was a head with two guns )

Sorry guys I know this is objectionable to many of you and I truly understand your opinions, this however is my opinion. Please don’t shoot me down for it

 

[McChooky]

i ordered a camera, will get it a few days so i will monitor and see. we plan on getting a dog in the future though.its not in the cards any time soon but i know that will ease my mind.

Fortunately I already had dogs so I just had to train mine. I get regular visits from possums and coons at night but I just need protection during the day. My dogs don't stay out at night for their own safety.Coyotes will attack a dog and so will a bear and mine are family pets.Making your coop predator proof is the easiest way to keep your chickens safe.It needs an apron around the bottom too

 

[cassie]

I think trapping the raccoons is an exercise in futility. You may catch the current thief, but another will move right into the vacated territory. The only solution is to raccoon proof the coop. It isn't easy. Raccoons are very smart, and they will find and exploit any opening. You just have to make sure there aren't any.

 

[cavemanrich]

The only solution is to raccoon proof the coop.

I'm with you 100%

 

[cavemanrich]

moorembe​

You may consider reinforcing this portion as this may be a weak point, and raccoons can break thru such in desperate times.
Chain-link fence fabric would secure it . I suppose HC would also.

 

[DemeterAD9]

They likely won't stop coming around since they know there is food in there. Even if they do give up others will find the coop/run and test it all over trying to get in.

My run is not coon proof but the coop (hopefully) is. I'm on the humane dispatch side for predator control. I hunt and trap so doing a bit of lethal predator control is no problem for me. The coons usually get used one way or another, either I'll eat them or prepare them for chicken food. There's some coon in the oven right now actually.

We have 2 dogs and 2 cats that "help" prevent pests and predators coming around. One dog will tree a coon but she doesn't stay out at night so no use there. You'll never get rid of all the coons in the area but the idea is to get the ones that come too close to the chickens.

 

[Folly's place]

Having a very safe coop and run will lead to way fewer issues, and nearly never will you feel the need to trap anything. Since we made our coop/roofed run very safe, only critters in the barn, or any that are obviously ill, need to be removed.
When bears move here, we will add electric fencing around the coop also.
Mary

 

[McChooky]

Y

moorembe​

You may consider reinforcing this portion as this may be a weak point, and raccoons can break thru such in desperate times.
Chain-link fence fabric would secure it . I suppose HC would also.

I didn't notice the opening under the coop was only covered with lattice. Good catch! I thought all 4 sides were covered with hc!

 

[McChooky]

If you close the windows to keep the coons out how do you ventilate the coop ? The holes covered with mesh?

 

[McChooky]

I think trapping the raccoons is an exercise in futility. You may catch the current thief, but another will move right into the vacated territory. The only solution is to raccoon proof the coop. It isn't easy. Raccoons are very smart, and they will find and exploit any opening. You just have to make sure there aren't any.

We have a slew of possums as well as coons that swing by regularly but none of them hang around here long.There is a well beaten path in the woods above my house local wildlife uses .Most of them I never see ,there's too many trees.