Ok, so I have sad news for the BackYard Chicken community...... Racoon massacre!

[Kakaruk]

Thanks y'all. It wasn't the chicken wire. It was the connecting wire between the wire. As I shared, we had a tree growing out which pulled the wire/connecting wire apart and made it more susceptible

 

[Kakaruk]

Thank you all for your condolences and encouragement! I will let our hot summer take it's course, rebuild, reinforce, and then get some new girls when the time is right.

 

[McChooky]

Thank you all for your condolences and encouragement! I will let our hot summer take it's course, rebuild, reinforce, and then get some new girls when the time is right.

Being prepared is half the battle! Coons can be gruesome!

 

[BastyPutt]

Unfortunately, you had to learn the hard way that chicken wire isn't made for keeping predators out
Be sure to rebuilt with hardware cloth.

Amen

 

[Kakaruk]

Hi all, thank you so much!

I thought I had posted yesterday but somehow I don't see it here in the link. Anyway, the coon DID NOT get through the chicken wire. I had a tree freeze and then later branches grew out wildly, compromising the wires I had woven together. The coon loosened the middle section where the wires were attached, unbeknownst to me, not very well. That's what happened.

 

[SamLockwood]

You really need them to be fully enclosed to be safe at night. My coops are connected by a covered run: 2x4 frame with 1/2" grid 17 gauge wire. Later on I raised the whole thing and put it on top of 12" concrete pavers to deter digging and assist in drainage.

Even if it's braced properly chicken wire is pretty weak, and anything with a gap 1" wide or bigger that is near where the chickens roost at night is an opportunity for something to reach through and pull pieces of them through the wire.

Lately the raccoons and possums don't even bother any more: they try to raid other things now (last fall they started tearing up potted plants for some reason). I've got an owl that sometimes try to get at the ones that roost outside at night. It can't get at them but it does scare the hell out of the flock.

The doors are also really stiff on the coops, nesting boxes, and run door because I've seen raccoons pry loose boards apart. They are freaky strong for their size.

As far as how to deal with your raccoon problem, as others said trapping & relocating isn't really an option. It's illegal most places and even if you don't care about that all you're doing is teaching the raccoon to avoid traps (if it isn't already trap-savvy). If you can't stomach dispatching the raccoon yourself, recruit one of the local rednecks, hire an extermiantor, or beef up the structure you keep your birds in.

 

[BastyPutt]

You really need them to be fully enclosed to be safe at night. My coops are connected by a covered run: 2x4 frame with 1/2" grid 17 gauge wire. Later on I raised the whole thing and put it on top of 12" concrete pavers to deter digging and assist in drainage.
View attachment 3557675

Even if it's braced properly chicken wire is pretty weak, and anything with a gap 1" wide or bigger that is near where the chickens roost at night is an opportunity for something to reach through and pull pieces of them through the wire.

Lately the raccoons and possums don't even bother any more: they try to raid other things now (last fall they started tearing up potted plants for some reason). I've got an owl that sometimes try to get at the ones that roost outside at night. It can't get at them but it does scare the hell out of the flock.

The doors are also really stiff on the coops, nesting boxes, and run door because I've seen raccoons pry loose boards apart. They are freaky strong for their size.

As far as how to deal with your raccoon problem, as others said trapping & relocating isn't really an option. It's illegal most places and even if you don't care about that all you're doing is teaching the raccoon to avoid traps (if it isn't already trap-savvy). If you can't stomach dispatching the raccoon yourself, recruit one of the local rednecks, hire an extermiantor, or beef up the structure you keep your birds in.

I also leave my Guineas out, in hopes I'll be lucky enough for something to come take them all! The most irritating animal on the face of the earth.

 

[Sammster]

I'm so sorry. How devastating

 

[DLA]

Hi all, thank you so much!

I thought I had posted yesterday but somehow I don't see it here in the link. Anyway, the coon DID NOT get through the chicken wire. I had a tree freeze and then later branches grew out wildly, compromising the wires I had woven together. The coon loosened the middle section where the wires were attached, unbeknownst to me, not very well. That's what happened.

That is awful. I'm so sorry that happened to you! Regarding the wire, just because it went for the easiest entry point this time doesn't mean that a coon can't easily rip thru chicken wire. Chicken wire is only good for keeping chickens in. Once a coon gets a meal, they will continue to return till they are stopped. I stopped filling my bird feeders a year ago and they still swing by and check about once a week so they remember.

 

[FluffyMama]

What a traumatic experience; I'm so sorry. We've dealt with raccoons and other predators taking our chickens, as do most people who have livestock.

We thought our setup was secure but we had a couple of questionable spots and both were breached. A space under the door to the run and a weakened area over the top of the run. If it's there, they'll find it.

It sounds like you have a solid plan for the future. May your heart heal.