Oh boy. Big trouble..............

[dixygirl]

I admire your idealistic views.

Let us know how it turns out for you.

I won't do it though.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Yes, let us know how it turns out.

I wouldn't do it either, I've seen videos of where people feed coons, and it only leads to a larger populations. One lady would open her backdoor and throw out the dogfood, and I'm not kidding 20+ coons would come out of the woodwork to fight over it.

It is a very interesting suggestion. I hope it works for you.

Different solutions work for different people. Just make sure to keep your pens locked up tight come nightfall until the coons move on.

Oh yeah, make SURE to put the food out only at night. By taking the food out there during the day, you teach the coons to come out during the day, which is unnatural.

-Kim

 

[Solsken Farm]

Quote:
I'm not idealistic.

I am weighing the advice of someone who has a great deal of experience more than me. It is a tough call for me because I don't want to lose my birds, but also do not want to needlessly kill a family of coons if I don't have to. He has a point and a ton of experience. He rescues fowl as well, so it is not like he has a bias to save something higher on the food chain.

I had a plan when I started this thread, but I am open to trying something different.

We have huge cornfields around us, ponds, tons of wild turkey, and many other natural critters. And cat and dogfood in the barn. So they have a plentiful food source.

Kim, I agree about the daytime feeding.

I will keep you posted.

 

[Davaroo]

So in other words you bind them to you and your place by feeding them out of hand, as it were? Keep them satiated and full, and with luck, they'll tire of the bland diet and go out for fish (and hopefully not chicken?)
Taking all their freeloading offspring and cousins with them, I assume?

Wow, no wonder you wanted to keep mum. Sorry, peacenik naturalism isn't for me. I believe in pre-eminence and the fact that I have it. When we're all dead and gone, they can have it back. I am for Teddie Roosevelt coming back, too.

As Terrielacy says, when they start paying taxes on the place, we'll negotiate other arrangements.
Until then, it's either me or them, with little room for them.
After all, I know how they behave when the food bowl is empty or I'm not looking, Animal Planet be d@mned.

It's harsh, I know, but...well there it is.

 

[dixygirl]

 

[Solsken Farm]

Davaroo. I didn't want to keep it mum, I just didn't feel like having an argument with people and based on how I see some threads go, I assumed (rightly, I see) that this would quickly turn to, "shoot 'em, you fool."

I have a different view of wildlife. Doesn't mean I am clueless. Just means I have a different view. Why is being a peacenik naturalist such a terrible thing, anyway? I may or may not be one.....but why is THAT so terrible?

I have no problem having discussions with folks who disagree with me, as long as it stays respectful. Please and thank you.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Oh, its not a bad thing at all. I respect that, in fact, which may surprise some. I'm really a peaceful man and don't favor wanton killing.

I also do not think livestock or pets should be subjected to ravenous threat in the name of 'peace'. WE are the stewards of these creatures we call pets, livestock, even friends. As such, we owe them their safety in as much as we can arrange it. This at times calls for drastic, even draconian, measures.

Sadly, raccoons and other predators know nothing of such lofty sentiments as peacenik goodwill naturalism. In their world it is them or you (which extends to your food, grain or livestock/pets.) Period. Pretty cut and dried, really.

I simply intend to deny them the first option, the "them" part of the equation. Well, until they pay their share of the taxes and feed bill, that is.

But as always in these threads - that is my opinion, and yours is yours. Shall we leave it at that, and still be friends?

 

[Solsken Farm]

Absolutely Davaroo.

And I agree with you to some extent.

I am here to report that it is the second night of them not showing up. The dog and cat food remain untouched and all my trips to the barn yielded no fuzzy masked bandits........

We'll see what happens.

 

[purr]

I would just like to say Good Luck I hope they go about their bussiness and leave you and yours alone . keep us posted.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

 

[dixygirl]

Yes good luck. There are some predator repellants on the market other than dog food. I use Repels-All. I am not sure what I think of it yet. Time will tell.

Good luck again with your decision.