Out smarting the raccoon...

[Sg4]

Sad to say, a raccoon killed 2 of my hens. He showed up several times and kept beating my defenses. I set a couple of traps and am waiting with rifle in hand.
Since the loss of my sweet ladies, I have been altering my security. The last time I saw the raccoon he ran off, but was unsuccessful at getting to the flock. So I feel confident in their safety currently. A week has passed, and no sign of the raccoon anywhere. Not even near the baits and trap. Has he moved on because he couldn't access the hens? Did I outwit him until the next one comes along? Who knows about raccoon behavior?
P.S. I live on about 3 acres surrounded by woods

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Don't let your guard down.

Coons are territorial. They don't wander far away from a food source. Get multi traps and keep relocating them and re baiting. Good luck.

 

[Sg4]

Don't let your guard down.View attachment 1432057
Coons are territorial. They don't wander far away from a food source. Get multi traps and keep relocating them and re baiting. Good luck.

Thanks! I love my girls and will defend them no matter what it takes

 

[MillersFarm]

What kind of traps do you use? What do you use as bait?

 

[OhZark Biddies]

Likely it has just found another food source for now. Where I am mulberries are ripe, and the raccoons are all over them currently, so it could be that it has found a mulberry tree nearby... or something like that.

For raccoon baits I like sweet stuff. Petite marshmallows, left over holiday candy, etc. Using cage traps, I like to "give" them some in front of the trap, and then put some back behind the trigger pan. Cat food works too, but for cage traps the sugar will often convince them to go in for more because they crave it after having a taste.

I'm up to 9 raccoons and 1 possum trapped in the last 2 months, but I live in the sticks surrounded by woods, so I know there will be more.

The problem I have with the sweets is ants in the summer, they can eat a lot of the bait overnight on warm nights.

 

[mountain chicken]

what kind of birds you have?
most of mine are Brahmas they pretty much know how to defend with smaller predators they killed 2 squirrels yesterday I think it intimidates the next larger predators as they don't come around much .

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

I had an easy time trapping a raccoon with marshmallows. I knew where it was coming in from so I made a trail of yummies that lead up to the trap by a car tire. Good luck!

 

[Sg4]

What kind of traps do you use? What do you use as bait?

I use cage traps baited with everything from cat food, marshmallows, and even pieces of raw chicken

 

[Sg4]

what kind of birds you have?
most of mine are Brahmas they pretty much know how to defend with smaller predators they killed 2 squirrels yesterday I think it intimidates the next larger predators as they don't come around much .

I have new chicks in the brooder inside, but outside I have a golden comet and RIR. The two that were killed were BOs