Lost All Our Hens :-(

[N F C]

Bad news: Those darn raccoon climbed right up into the rafters and got our rooster (Big Red). So now they are all gone. We may not get new ones. I have heard that the raccoon population around here has increased by quite a bit. The coyotes have mostly moved up into the Denver metro area! Not enough predators anymore.

Sorry for the loss of all your birds.

 

[50-45-1]

Racoons are not the problem.
Your coop/barn set up was the problem.
I started out with a shed that was not sufficient and was always patching and reinforcing it. I lost a lot of great pets (chickens). Finally my husband tore down the old shed an we rebuilt a new coop from the reclaimed lumber. I no longer loose any birds at night. Tight enough that mice do not get in.
Dont get chickens again until you have a chicken coop that doesnt allow preditors to get in.
Loosing them in this way is heart breaking. Nature has given them no defences and no night vision. They are truly "sitting ducks" to any type of preditor in the darkness.

 

[ScottyGill]

Oh this is so sad, I'm so sorry for your loss,

 

[Shadrach]

How high up are your rafters?
There is a method of getting chickens from high places. If you place pressure on the lower leg between the foot and the knee while a chicken is roosting (When it is dark usually although with some dusk will do) it is an automatic reaction for the chicken to step backwards and grip whatever applied the pressure at that point. It's an involuntary reaction.
I use a pole with a small T piece on the end. I can post a picture if I need to.
The pole needs to be thick enough not to bend.
I get the pro tree huggers out of the trees here with such a pole if necessary. It's a lot calmer and safer than trying to net a frightened bird.

 

[Folly's place]

We too started with chickens roosting and living in our pole barn, many years ago, because we were told 'It will be fine" and we didn't know better.
Things went as you just experienced, and we learned. Build a safe coop and run!!!
No chicken can cope with predators at night!
Ignorance is not bliss if you are one of those chickens, and it just needs to be done better.
Also, trap and shoot those raccoons that have moved into your barn!
Mary

 

[bigz1983]

Bad news: Those darn raccoon climbed right up into the rafters and got our rooster (Big Red). So now they are all gone. We may not get new ones. I have heard that the raccoon population around here has increased by quite a bit. The coyotes have mostly moved up into the Denver metro area! Not enough predators anymore.

You need to predator proof your barn before you get new chickens.
I suggest a automatic coop door and trapping the coons.