Had two racoons two weeks apart here. Both dispatched neatly. I continue to set traps and have caught two feral cats the last two nights along with the second racoon. I just don't think they are done. I am a cat lover but these cats are wild and very agressive. They will be dispatched. If I catch my neighbors cat will just keep it the trap most of the day and call them to come get it. I don't really mind it but it needs to stay home....and not hang out around my runs.
The racoons gutted the chickens they got. One's head was removed but it was because the racoon tried to get itout the hole it crawled in. That breach has been fixed and nothing can get in there. I have spent since Monday working on coops and runs all day. DH and I had a difference in opinions on what was secure and what was not. After the losses and with him being out of town working he has said do whatever it takes to secure the runs. So, with the help of my SIL and nephew I have done just that. Two and a half feet out and two and a half feet up the sides of the runs. Buried under crusher dust that was piled up on our property. It packs down hard and moisture and drying out makes it even harder. Top of runs have just been covered with a second wire.....first one would only keep out hawks and I argued it before but now it is okay that I put more! When the racoon got my broody hen that was the final straw for DH...he really wanted that hen! So, when he comes home we are installing motion flood lights on both ends of the coops and runs. ANYTHING I want now! So.....maybe an electric fence too I am thinking!
We went a hole year without any losses! But it is spring and they are all out there looking. All we can all do is secure things the best we can and lock up at night. I know I cannot sleep at night if the chickens are not locked up!
So sorry for the losses that you have had.....look at your set up and see where the weaknesses are and plug them all!
The racoons gutted the chickens they got. One's head was removed but it was because the racoon tried to get itout the hole it crawled in. That breach has been fixed and nothing can get in there. I have spent since Monday working on coops and runs all day. DH and I had a difference in opinions on what was secure and what was not. After the losses and with him being out of town working he has said do whatever it takes to secure the runs. So, with the help of my SIL and nephew I have done just that. Two and a half feet out and two and a half feet up the sides of the runs. Buried under crusher dust that was piled up on our property. It packs down hard and moisture and drying out makes it even harder. Top of runs have just been covered with a second wire.....first one would only keep out hawks and I argued it before but now it is okay that I put more! When the racoon got my broody hen that was the final straw for DH...he really wanted that hen! So, when he comes home we are installing motion flood lights on both ends of the coops and runs. ANYTHING I want now! So.....maybe an electric fence too I am thinking!
We went a hole year without any losses! But it is spring and they are all out there looking. All we can all do is secure things the best we can and lock up at night. I know I cannot sleep at night if the chickens are not locked up!
So sorry for the losses that you have had.....look at your set up and see where the weaknesses are and plug them all!
