Well i've read plenty of great things on BYC, but this may be the first. Short history: I live in Cleveland, when i decided to raise me some chickens I had to go threw all the necessary procedures (permit, inspections by city). My neighbors (adjoining to property) had to me notified of my plans on obtaining chickens, which out of the 3 only 1 objected to it on the form (and i was really surprised by that, because they were just worried about their dog getting to my chickens). So I obtained my permit, build my coop and my hens are doing great (14weeks old now). Now my one neighbor who is so into the greater life of animals and save all creatures, was so disturbed when he thought i was raising chickens to kill and eat has decided to start feeding the ferile cats and raccoons within 15' of my coop and run!!!
My son decided to camp out in the backyard one night and this is how we found out. He called me from his cell phone and when i went out to look, I must say i've never seen so many raccoons in one spot in my life (not one cat seen) and i'm a outdoorsman (camping, fishing, hunting, etc..) Basically it seems he has attracted every raccoon within the whole city of Cleveland..lol "not really funny". It was around midnight and I decided to wake my neighbor and ask him why he was feeding the racoons? He gives me this long story on how he is helping god's creatures get the extra nutrients that they need, etc.. I explain to him that he has just created a tremendous problem for me and my hens, because i'm sure they already knew my hens were there but now they will make even more attempts at getting my hens.
Now since i live in the city limits i'm not allowed to shoot them (I wish), trapping them is a idea, then i could take them out to a friends farm and shoot them but thats alot of gas..lol Also thought that since my neighbor is a vegan and is so much in love of animals (don't get me wrong, I don't eat alot of meat and I care for wildlife myself) that maybe i should sacrifice one of my hens and process one while he is out doing yard work. Then tell him, I better eat my chickens before the raccoons do...
Anyways not sure what steps I will take at this time, but wanted to share my dilema and see what thoughts my BYC friends have.
P.S. My coop and run is pretty secure I hope, I have 19guage welded wire covering the outside pen (except where I installed plywood on top for shade. Its ran about 2' out at bottom on 3 sides with bricks on top. One side adjoining coop is buried 3' deep, cause the coop is about 1 1/2' off ground. All the eaves on coop are covered with welded wire and outside windows, even the ridgevent on roof.
My son decided to camp out in the backyard one night and this is how we found out. He called me from his cell phone and when i went out to look, I must say i've never seen so many raccoons in one spot in my life (not one cat seen) and i'm a outdoorsman (camping, fishing, hunting, etc..) Basically it seems he has attracted every raccoon within the whole city of Cleveland..lol "not really funny". It was around midnight and I decided to wake my neighbor and ask him why he was feeding the racoons? He gives me this long story on how he is helping god's creatures get the extra nutrients that they need, etc.. I explain to him that he has just created a tremendous problem for me and my hens, because i'm sure they already knew my hens were there but now they will make even more attempts at getting my hens.
Now since i live in the city limits i'm not allowed to shoot them (I wish), trapping them is a idea, then i could take them out to a friends farm and shoot them but thats alot of gas..lol Also thought that since my neighbor is a vegan and is so much in love of animals (don't get me wrong, I don't eat alot of meat and I care for wildlife myself) that maybe i should sacrifice one of my hens and process one while he is out doing yard work. Then tell him, I better eat my chickens before the raccoons do...
Anyways not sure what steps I will take at this time, but wanted to share my dilema and see what thoughts my BYC friends have.
P.S. My coop and run is pretty secure I hope, I have 19guage welded wire covering the outside pen (except where I installed plywood on top for shade. Its ran about 2' out at bottom on 3 sides with bricks on top. One side adjoining coop is buried 3' deep, cause the coop is about 1 1/2' off ground. All the eaves on coop are covered with welded wire and outside windows, even the ridgevent on roof.