Massacre in the coop

[Marylanddave]

I'm really sorry for your loss, CrookedCoop. I had a similar loss last week (10 birds). My coop has been in use for over two years now, and never had any problems. That was, until last week when five or six raccoons managed to move several large boulders and squeezed their way under my raised coop. I had no idea they could be so strong. I have an inexpensive wifi cam installed in my run so I was able to review the carnage (Yi Home Camera on Amazon - highly recommended!). It was tough to watch, but it was entirely my fault and I'm not letting anything happen to my next flock. I'm in the process of installing wire hardware cloth along all sides along with burried extra large flagstones so they can't tunnel under. I'm also installing electric fencing around the perimeter since I have an electrical outlet nearby.

With several weeks before my new chicks can be relocated to the coop, I'm taking this time to eliminate every coon I can trap. Catch and release is out of the question at this point... especially after watching them tear up my helpless birds. As chicken owners, it's our responsibility to protect our flocks, which is why I still feel terrible. Never again!

 

[CrookedCoop8]

That is awesome!!!
We aren't ordering anymore till next spring. I've got to make sure this will never happen again

 

[CrookedCoop8]

Marylanddave,it def helps knowing I'm not alone in this heart wrenching battle.
If I owned a gun I'm pretty sure I would've gone coon huntin this morning.
Before we get more we are going to make it the safest one ever so this doesn't occur again.
So sorry for your loss as well.

 

[two j farm]

I had the same thing happen this morning.

my problem was a dog killed 25 chickens and 2 ducks. I have eggs in incubator right now and pen is being fixed and the dog is gone for good!

 

[CrookedCoop8]

Oh no!!!!!!! This part of owning chickens is hard

I get attached way too easy. They were so dang sweet

 

[carlf]

Sorry for your loss.
Every chicken owner should own at least one coon size box trap and a way to dispatch them (.22 with subsonic shorts or high power pellet rifle is best, head shots at point blank range while in the trap). Relocating predators is definitely out of the question.

 

[andysgirl]

Sorry for your loss. This is a good thing for me to read. My husband and I were sitting in lawn chairs after dark just last night. The chickens were closed up for the night already. When along comes this black shape only 10 feet or less from us. We stop talking realizing it was a coon. We didn't hav the gun out, so my husband got up and chased it on foot hissing like an angry wildcat! I'm gonna look into some more ways to secure my coop. Thanks for posting.

 

[CrookedCoop8]

I have my traps set up with fish so I'm hoping to catch these little mother truckers!!!
Andysgirl, so glad Yall saw it in time
We are also going to secure ours with an electric fence

 

[TrialandError]

I feel your pain. My coop is quite secure against coons and opossums. However I had a mama bear and baby bears get into my coop. I haven't closed them in in over a year and just last Thursday bears got in cause I was so lax and didn't close them in. I had 13 birds I now only have my rooster and 3 girls left. The worst part is not knowing if any of them are still alive and just loose or if the bears got them. For sure the bears got 2. I tested out my coop on Saturday night and it is bear proof. They didn't get in.

Maybe after you are able to post pics someone can give you pointers to make it more secure.

 

[CrookedCoop8]

I know what happened... The coons chewed the zip ties that was holding the temp door I place
The hardware cloth did its job. I could shake my hub for being lazy. I asked him to put hinges and a lock.