I need advice on dealing with a big fat murderous raccoon!

[GoodyChickenShz]

Thanks for giving me a few more ideas

but, seriously, I've decided not to go with the radiator fluid.

BTW, squirrel poison that you buy in the store that is labeled for that use, isn't that just as bad as some of these other "home remedies"? I mean, if another animal eats the squirrel after it was killed by "legal" squirrel poison, won't that animal die too or at least get real sick? Also, I can't imagine death by "legal" squirrel poison would be any more pleasant than death by radiator fluid.

 

[ellend]

Poison is brutal and indiscriminate, and can never be condoned. Racoons aren't predators, they are omnivores and opportunists. Chickens behind chicken wire must legitimately be considered LUNCH. Provide proper protection in the form of 1/2 by 1 "rabbit wire" (NOT "hardware cloth") and dug into the ground wire or steel deterrent, with an enclosed top of course, and you won't have to worry about racoons. The raccoon ISN'T vicious, and shouldn't be treated as such. Nobody would serve him at the drive-in window, so he went to the next available lunch counter. He was hungry, and has to eat now to SURVIVE the winter. Look at it his way--you have SO much food...and you "put it right there in front of him." It's NOT HIS fault; he HAS to eat. Displace him--by any method, and another WILL move in to fill the niche; that's how nature works. If you want to keep your birds safe by killing, you'll have to eradicate the species. Then you'll have to start on the opossums, skunks, rats, and whatever else you might have in your area. Much more sensible to protect your birds from the outset. Good luck, I hope you are able to construct a protective run, and your birds flourish.

I'm very sorry about your birds; that must have been awful.

I don't understand WHY they call it "chicken wire!" All it does is get chickens KILLED!

 

[ellend]

Quote:
OF COURSE YOU HAVE!!!!

Does anybody NOT understand nature? Once a section of territory (food supply) becomes available because the animal living in it (and defending it) is eradicated, ANOTHER moves INTO that spot!!!! It's not like habitat is being created for every new baby born!

How about building strong pens, instead of kill, kill, kill???? Or is killing just easy and "fun?"

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
OF COURSE YOU HAVE!!!!

Does anybody NOT understand nature? Once a section of territory (food supply) becomes available because the animal living in it (and defending it) is eradicated, ANOTHER moves INTO that spot!!!!

If this is happening with you then you are not trapping long enough and actually solving the problem. This does not happen when I finish trapping. It's not like habitat is being created for every new baby born!

How about building strong pens, instead of kill, kill, kill???? Or is killing just easy and "fun?"

The preds kill they get killed it is part of a "natural process" not a big deal just the "circle of life"

 

[MsGreenJeans]

I have a similar problem, periodically. I live on the edge of a riparian area, and with that comes the occasional marauder, or two...or four. We only free-range our flock during the day, and even then, their range is restricted by their fencing...chicken wire. The trick is, at night, they go in to the hen-house, and we close a heavy wooden door that drops closed, is fastened, and wedged with a large rock. That solves the problem as long as the hens stay inside the fencing and go into the coop at night. Thank goodness for Roo! He has gotten the idea it's his job to escort his ladies to the coop at night! Next, I'll be adding a Livestock Guardian Dog. They cohabitate with the wildlife, and protect their "space" without hunting the wildlife...they discourage encroachment. I love that idea. I know I've got bobcats out there (tracks), and raccoons (tracks, and sighting), we have had opossums (sighted), and we hear coyotes coming down the mountain about 200 yds. away from my back door. 1/4 mile the other way is a st. hwy...go figure. For us, an LGD is an ideal solution...finding one is a bit more difficult!

 

[Oldfort_mailman]

Better fencing has not worked for me. We have an off the ground cage for our young birds (3 weeks to 8 weeks) with half inch by half inch wire for the bottom so the poop goes out and half inch by 1inch wire for the sides. The top is solid plywood as is the back. The coon for the last few nights has somehow gotten enough of a paw through the half by 1inch wire to mangle a three week old tophat, bit off some toes, and removed skin from a three week old turkey. The cage bottom is three feet off the ground with nothing but the 1 inch of poop underneath.
The cage itself is ten feet long by two feet wide by two feet high. The wire is not chewed in any places because it is too thick. My only solution is trap and destroy. I agree he has a right to live but not at the expense of my chickens and turkeys. if it can mame them through half by 1inch wire to the point that they can't heal and have to be put down then he has to go as well as any friends he may have brought along. Don't see that I really have any other choice.

 

[calista]

Quote:
Our coop and runs are as predator-proof as we can make them, and yet I've seen coons pacing outside the fence, trying in frustration at being unable to get in, to "worry" my birds into piling up in a corner in a panic where they might suffocate or get injured.

You bet I "kill, kill, kill" any coon on my property near my coop and runs. And I'll keep doing it until the resident population is either depleted or I run out of bullets or water for my 55-gallon raccoon "swimming pool."

It's not "fun" -- in fact, it's a major PITA. However, it's just part of raising any kind of livestock and protecting it.

 

[moms_pantry]

Sorry for your loss. I know how you feel. I would go with the shotgun. I have used it successfully in the past. I have also used live traps on occasion. I don't recommend poison.

 

[earnhardtlvr]

Quote:
OF COURSE YOU HAVE!!!!

Does anybody NOT understand nature? Once a section of territory (food supply) becomes available because the animal living in it (and defending it) is eradicated, ANOTHER moves INTO that spot!!!!

If this is happening with you then you are not trapping long enough and actually solving the problem. This does not happen when I finish trapping. It's not like habitat is being created for every new baby born!

How about building strong pens, instead of kill, kill, kill???? Or is killing just easy and "fun?"

The preds kill they get killed it is part of a "natural process" not a big deal just the "circle of life"


x2 Aprophet!

 

[LittleSpiritFeathers]

Recently lost 1/2 my chickens to coons. Our feathher babies are now locked in a coop at night. The doorway into the pen is shut and lockedd with a hook and eye and the coop floor is wired with heavy small gauge wire with 2 layers of floorinng. all windows are wired over with the small gauge too. We live trap the coons then dipose of them humanely. Some states don't allow relocation and it has to be at least 10 miles away. Nothing will deter a coon from an easy meal. We thoughht poison at first, but decided against it due to the other wildlife we have on the property. Our bandits took off with the chickens leaving only 2 gutted in the pen. Still miss my babies. If you live trap, beware, coons are viscious when attacked.