Predator

[new chick family]

It has been a week and thankfully nothing has been back. Not in the coop or in the trap. Has anyone ever had a preditor to hit only once and never come back? Could it have been something different we did that lured them in? Thanks for your responses.

 

[chickenwoods]

Ive,never heard of a hit once predator,once they've found good easy meat,they'll be back.
I had 2 coons come to my barn every night and eat my feed,they came almost every night at 9:30...I tried several times to sneak out thier but they would always run off..i finnaly took care of them but,if you dont take care of them they will be back eventually.Free food is hard to pass up,especially when its as good as chicken.

 

[harv681]

This is terrifying to me as a newbie. How do racoons get into the coop? How can I protect my girls?

 

[RoyalHillsLLC]

Raccoons don't get into my coop. They do their damage to me when I free range primarily. When I lock them up at night they are safe.
Previously I had one killed by reaching thru the wire and getting one while he slept. I had to reinforce that wire with chicken wire (smaller holes). I have lost a couple that wandered back into the pen for food or water during the day and a coon cornered them in there and killed them.
They can climb, crawl, dig, chew or tear thru just about anything. Reinforce everything and use small wire.