NY chicken lover!!!!

[Lynzi777]

Hi All,
It's been a while since I posted. I'm finally all moved upstate. Chickens are getting big. I think I have three hens and a roo. I started a thread getting other's opinions on my lavender pair which I believe is a roo and hen. They are inseperable those two. It's kinda funny. But I'm 99% sure my silkie is a hen and my BO x Black Sex Link is a hen.

I went up to the coop tonight and it looks like something (I'm pretty sure it's the pesty raccoon that's been going thru my garbage at night) has been trying to get into my coop! There are scratches all over the front and today I noticed all this digging along the right hand side where we open the door to let them out of the run. So I told my 6 year old, no more just shutting the run after putting them in the coop, we have to lock up the little door to the coop as well. I'm not taking any chances of this thing being able to get under the run if he digs a deep enough hole. I have a big cement block on the end of it keeping it from being lifted up and pressed hard up against the coop, I doubt he'd be able to move it. But still...This is starting to scare me a little. I sprayed some Repell All tonight around the coop and the edge ofthe woods, doubt that will work though. I wanna try to catch him in the act too. My dog has been doing crazy at night right before bed so I'm sure thats when hes out there. He cant get into my garbage anymore so I'm sure he's moved onto better things....

 

[Cass]

Hi All,
It's been a while since I posted. I'm finally all moved upstate. Chickens are getting big. I think I have three hens and a roo. I started a thread getting other's opinions on my lavender pair which I believe is a roo and hen. They are inseperable those two. It's kinda funny. But I'm 99% sure my silkie is a hen and my BO x Black Sex Link is a hen.

I went up to the coop tonight and it looks like something (I'm pretty sure it's the pesty raccoon that's been going thru my garbage at night) has been trying to get into my coop! There are scratches all over the front and today I noticed all this digging along the right hand side where we open the door to let them out of the run. So I told my 6 year old, no more just shutting the run after putting them in the coop, we have to lock up the little door to the coop as well. I'm not taking any chances of this thing being able to get under the run if he digs a deep enough hole. I have a big cement block on the end of it keeping it from being lifted up and pressed hard up against the coop, I doubt he'd be able to move it. But still...This is starting to scare me a little. I sprayed some Repell All tonight around the coop and the edge ofthe woods, doubt that will work though. I wanna try to catch him in the act too. My dog has been doing crazy at night right before bed so I'm sure thats when hes out there. He cant get into my garbage anymore so I'm sure he's moved onto better things....

I read somewhere that racoons are as stong as a teen age male. Now I am not sure if THAT is true, but I do know that they have tried to peel my chicken wire off the top of my runs and have done quite a bit of damage to the wire. So it isn't impossible to think they are moving a block. Try some lead poisioning....I hear that stops them in their tracks. (But I am a lousy shot, so I have to trap them and then inflict the lead up close)

 

[Lynzi777]

Where can I get a trap? I'm thinking if I can trap this thing I'd rather release it on the other side of the mountain. As much as I'd like to see this thing dead for all the garbage I woke up to every morning last week, I don't think I have it in me to get the job done LOL

 

[Henicillin]

It looks like and invasion from a Sci Fi movie. How anyone can say they don't look like Aliens is beyond me. I do hope your wearing your tin foil hat.

I still say they're miniature Yetis in disguise.

 

[Lynzi777]

lol. Agreed. Either aliens or 2 legged dogs.

Funny you say that...As I was scrolling down to post my son came in here and saw the picture and asked "Mom, what are those? Are those chick-dogs?!?" LOL

 

[stonykill]

Where can I get a trap? I'm thinking if I can trap this thing I'd rather release it on the other side of the mountain. As much as I'd like to see this thing dead for all the garbage I woke up to every morning last week, I don't think I have it in me to get the job done LOL

TSC has a nice deal on them. Here is my advice. Kill it or it will be back.It is really that simple. I've killed 7 coons so far this year. Past years average 3 per year. Unless you want to wake up to dead chickens one morning kill it. Sorry to be blunt, but it is true.

 

[Lynzi777]

TSC has a nice deal on them. Here is my advice. Kill it or it will be back.It is really that simple. I've killed 7 coons so far this year. Past years average 3 per year. Unless you want to wake up to dead chickens one morning kill it. Sorry to be blunt, but it is true.

You're right, I know. Why wait until it's too late...

 

[Cass]

TSC has a nice deal on them. Here is my advice. Kill it or it will be back.It is really that simple. I've killed 7 coons so far this year. Past years average 3 per year. Unless you want to wake up to dead chickens one morning kill it. Sorry to be blunt, but it is true.

ditto

However my Tractor supply didn't have the deal Stony talks about. Sigh, But I got a trap there for a little under $40. Agway carries them too.

And I wish to echo, aloud, Stony's advice to kill it. For starters it might be part of a family group, so it will be highly motivated to get back to your area. Second, it is illegal to release wildlife without a permit. It's not illegal to kill them. I like to fly under the radar, so I vote for killing and keeping myself legal. Of course, this presumes that you live in an area where firing a gun is legal. (I do) Otherwise, call your local dog catcher (cuz if it's not legal to fire a gun around you, you have a dog catcher) and have them take it away. Ask for your trap back, cuz otherwise they will "forget" to bring it back.

 

[rancher hicks]

Nope, I find them pretty dopey looking myself. I have exactly ONE of them....she's a wonderful broody and a good momma....Oh, and has BLACK skin, so there is no way I am gonna butcher it for eating, so it stays.

Aliens. And the other chickens laugh at it. (Oh, and it can't fly, so it can't roost with the other chickens. Pretty, but useless)

Before this goes to far. I was just kidding. They are useful as broody hens for breeds that don't do well. I've yet to have a Del hatch well but I keep hoping. I don't have any silkies however since they require more care than I have to give.

 

[rancher hicks]

Where can I get a trap? I'm thinking if I can trap this thing I'd rather release it on the other side of the mountain. As much as I'd like to see this thing dead for all the garbage I woke up to every morning last week, I don't think I have it in me to get the job done LOL

Some frown on trap and release since you don't know where or who your releasing them to. I've been fortunate and I would hate to find someone released a coon in my territory. I advocate filling it full of lead or some other permanent solution.