How to keep coons from getting my chicks/hens

[Sweetlilbaby]

In the past I lived where you could defend your livestock against animals. I currently live in the city but am allowed to own 6 hens. I am of course hatching eggs to get those hens.
I am considering using a dog crate and bringing them inside at night. We have raccoons really bad here, even possums. Is it okay to use a giant dog crate for hens over night then take them outside in the day? Or is that a bad idea?
I have a giant dog house outside going to convert it to a coop. But I don't know about leaving the chickens in it at night as it doesn't have that great of ventilation.

Any idea to keep my chickens safe?
I also own two dogs that are completely trust worthy with chickens. But i wont leave my dogs outside at night.

 

[fried green eggs]

You have few choices: Hens like to roost at night so you could - add ventilation to the dog house/coop and put a pop door that can be secured at night. Bring them in and put a roost in the crate, Live trap the possums and coons.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

I probably would be better off just locking them in the coop at night. Less stress on the hens. I do plan to buy a live trap and start trapping animals. Last time i rented one I didn't catch any coons or possums though. Just cats.

 

[rikithemonk]

People here in the forums have suggested that good bait for raccoons are Cinnamon buns, jelly, or marsh mellows.

Good luck trapping

Bye the way, are you going to keep your chickens in a run or are you going to let them roam the yard?

Riki

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

People here in the forums have suggested that good bait for raccoons are Cinnamon buns, jelly, or marsh mellows.

Good luck trapping

Bye the way, are you going to keep your chickens in a run or are you going to let them roam the yard?

Riki

I am going to make a light weight portable pen or something. When I'm out working in the yard I'll let them run loose though to eat all the bugs in the garden.
thanks for the suggestions on bait. I have several bags of marsh mellows i bought for my niece. I'll try that to catch the coons.

 

[fried green eggs]

Don't make your pen too light, Coons are pretty strong and could lift a corner to get in.

 

[CorinneP]

We use Marsh mellows Coons love them In a Live trap .. And Coons can be very tricky pawing there way into pretty tight spots. I had one that was able to pull a door that didn't latch tight enough out just enough at the bottom to snatch young chicks ..That particular coon will never get another chick ; ) But we are always watchful of more !

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

I plan to keep the chickens locked up in a heavy duty wooden dog house at night. Going to put a door on it that locks. That way wildlife cannot get the chickens. Or keep the chickens in my giant dog crate in the garage at night.
During the day i want a light weight pen so i can move it myself. My dogs don't try to get in with the chickens. I don't know about having to worry about wildlife getting the chickens during the day. Wildlife comes out at dark and is usually hidden by morning.

 

[centrarchid]

A couple tricks beyond making a coon-proof coop for night removing one of many coons living in your area.

Racoons can climb pretty good but they have limits. Generally they climb using claws so smooth flat surface can stop them. Chickens when roosting at points accessible only by flying four or more feet will be safe.

Another trick that worked even with a beagle was to have chickens roost where coon had to go past dog to get to chickens. Dog easily keeps coon away.

 

[destinduck]

I too live in a city. I use a havahart live trap that I use every once in a while (BTW Once you catch a cat it usually dont get in the trap ever again) and on top of that I have a electric fence around my pen. I got a great cheap one at ace.Around 25 dollars. Never had a problem after that. All my pens are made of just 1inch chicken wire. I feel this is your best bet to never worry about anything getting at em.