DemeterAD9
Songster
- Mar 21, 2024
- 665
- 1,301
- 193
Not necessarily looking for advice, just documenting my raccoon and other pest problems for anyone else who may have similar issue.
We live out in the country, dirt roads, crop fields, creeks, woods, public land just across the road etc. Of course we are going to have wild critters running around at night. I cannot completely predator proof the run nor do I wish to spend that kind of money to try. Besides, a protected run only works if the chickens are in it at all times and I let my birds free range part of they day as they obviously love it and I feel there are more benefits to free ranging than there are downsides. The main coop is well protected and I don't think anything will be getting in unless it's very persistent. So far I've been lucky enough to only have one attack which was last summer, my rooster got out of the run and had his head and neck eaten with the body drug off into the woods some 40ish yards. Pretty sure the culprit coon was caught and cooked then fed back to the flock (justice is served!). Since then I've had dog proof traps out on a couple main trails I would expect coon to travel to reach the chickens. It's been working great and I've caught at least 10 raccoons this spring (mostly pregnant females for anyone who cares) plus a possum with a pouch of babies (free ride across the creek and released). I figured I wouldn't have any major issues with coon till fall when they are looking for food and packing on the pounds for winter. Apparently I was wrong.
Caught 2 male coons in the past week not 20ft from my cockerel pen which is anything but secure (temporary grow-out pen). Just this morning I went to let the birds out and found both feeders knocked over with paw prints in the feed. That means they evaded the 3 dog proof traps and climbed over the fence to get in. Seeing as both feeders were knocked over in separate parts of the run, I suspect more than one coon so perhaps a family. I feel sick knowing they were literally feet away from the lean-to attached to the coop that houses about half my pullets I've been raising (letting them find their way into the main coop on their own). All that protects the little ones is a section of chicken wire that I pull over the opening and hold in place with a brick. I feel even more sick knowing that I was debating on closing off the lean-to and coop last night simply because I wanted to sleep in. So glad I locked them up.
Now I could remove the feeders at night and lock them up, but that means carrying heavy feeders to and from the house which is just inconvenient. And if I were to take away the feed (an easy meal) they'd likely try going after the birds. I will not be wasting money on feed for the vermin no will I stand for them killing my flock. So of course, this means war! I'm breaking out more dog proof traps, the live trap, a trail cam to see what time they are coming around, the red light and my trusty .22. Traps all around the run with two inside it baited with smoked fish and fish oil. Covered with buckets to keep the chickens out of them till it gets dark, anchored to suitable trees. Feeders will not be re-filled but left out. Lord help me if I trap a momma coon with a bunch of babies, I will feel so bad but it will be done.
Stay tuned for updates and photos. At some point I may go into my ongoing issues with grey squirrels who I have a love/hate relationship with.
We live out in the country, dirt roads, crop fields, creeks, woods, public land just across the road etc. Of course we are going to have wild critters running around at night. I cannot completely predator proof the run nor do I wish to spend that kind of money to try. Besides, a protected run only works if the chickens are in it at all times and I let my birds free range part of they day as they obviously love it and I feel there are more benefits to free ranging than there are downsides. The main coop is well protected and I don't think anything will be getting in unless it's very persistent. So far I've been lucky enough to only have one attack which was last summer, my rooster got out of the run and had his head and neck eaten with the body drug off into the woods some 40ish yards. Pretty sure the culprit coon was caught and cooked then fed back to the flock (justice is served!). Since then I've had dog proof traps out on a couple main trails I would expect coon to travel to reach the chickens. It's been working great and I've caught at least 10 raccoons this spring (mostly pregnant females for anyone who cares) plus a possum with a pouch of babies (free ride across the creek and released). I figured I wouldn't have any major issues with coon till fall when they are looking for food and packing on the pounds for winter. Apparently I was wrong.
Caught 2 male coons in the past week not 20ft from my cockerel pen which is anything but secure (temporary grow-out pen). Just this morning I went to let the birds out and found both feeders knocked over with paw prints in the feed. That means they evaded the 3 dog proof traps and climbed over the fence to get in. Seeing as both feeders were knocked over in separate parts of the run, I suspect more than one coon so perhaps a family. I feel sick knowing they were literally feet away from the lean-to attached to the coop that houses about half my pullets I've been raising (letting them find their way into the main coop on their own). All that protects the little ones is a section of chicken wire that I pull over the opening and hold in place with a brick. I feel even more sick knowing that I was debating on closing off the lean-to and coop last night simply because I wanted to sleep in. So glad I locked them up.
Now I could remove the feeders at night and lock them up, but that means carrying heavy feeders to and from the house which is just inconvenient. And if I were to take away the feed (an easy meal) they'd likely try going after the birds. I will not be wasting money on feed for the vermin no will I stand for them killing my flock. So of course, this means war! I'm breaking out more dog proof traps, the live trap, a trail cam to see what time they are coming around, the red light and my trusty .22. Traps all around the run with two inside it baited with smoked fish and fish oil. Covered with buckets to keep the chickens out of them till it gets dark, anchored to suitable trees. Feeders will not be re-filled but left out. Lord help me if I trap a momma coon with a bunch of babies, I will feel so bad but it will be done.
Stay tuned for updates and photos. At some point I may go into my ongoing issues with grey squirrels who I have a love/hate relationship with.
