LEVEL 1 Passive Raccoon Deterrent System Initiated...

[mdees88]

I'd like to see one of those furry little trash eaters try to climb these legs....

 

[BettiesBackyardBirds]

Good Luck

 

[Molpet]

Coons climbed my downspouts to get on the roof

 

[mdees88]

I'm about 85% sure these will get the job done. Already have the trailcam set up on them. This aluminum flashing is as slick as glass. Instead of wrapping them tight around the post, I let them open up some which creates a circle around the post. It has some give and more importantly it doesn't have any corners. This is important because if these were the shape of the 4x4s they could climb them by wrapping their hands around the back corners while pushing away from the post with their feet to create friction (the same way kids climb door jambs). That is probably how they climbed your downspouts too.

Level 2 will get them without a doubt. Going to see how well this works first before I take it that far.....

 

[John Sanders]

So what is level 2? I notice you're from lower alabama. I'm from middle alabama. Dead center! I can't wait till my quail hatch!

 

[mdees88]

So what is level 2? I notice you're from lower alabama. I'm from middle alabama. Dead center! I can't wait till my quail hatch!

I had quail for about 2 years before I had coon problems. They ended up killing around 9 of mine in two nights. I killed several coons the following week but I ended up taking a year off from the quail not too long after that. I'm just getting started back up now...

Level 2 is an active system. Basically I will connect all the alumimum flashing panels together with a wire, attach that wire to a metal stake, and drive it into the ground. This will ground the legs of the cage. Then I will run electric fence wire around each leg right near the top. This way he should at least struggle to get up the slick aluminum leg. Then if he gets the top he'll grab the hot wire to pull himself up, while half his body is grounded to the aluminum. He won't like that much..... I can attest.

 

[Just Don]

I like the look of your pens does the floors have a slant to them?

 

[mdees88]

I like the look of your pens does the floors have a slant to them?

They do, so the eggs roll out. I've built 4 so far but I'm selling one to a friend. Here's the links to them if you would like to see more pictures.....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/diy-quail-cage-1-0.1231344/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/diy-quail-cage-2-0.1231366/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/diy-quail-cage-3-0.1239392/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/diy-quail-cage-4-0.1356339/
I've got to get the auto watering system set up and add the egg cater trough on the big cage then I'll be finished with it. I'm using 1 gallon waters right now...

Just moved these little guys outside today.

 

[FluffyFeathers97]

Just a bit of advice, raccoons can stand up on their hind legs like bears and get pretty good leverage with their hands. So depending on how big it could maybe reach up to the wood or wire and heft itself up. Best of luck to you!

 

[mdees88]

Just a bit of advice, raccoons can stand up on their hind legs like bears and get pretty good leverage with their hands. So depending on how big it could maybe reach up to the wood or wire and heft itself up. Best of luck to you!

Very true. That's why I built all my cages 3.5ft off the ground, to try and keep them out of reach. This one is actually 4ft to the wire floor. There are claw marks all up and down the posts. Hopefully that's the only way they were getting up there. I guess the trailcam will let me know. If they end up jumping to reach the floor I'll have to add electric fence wire under the cage....