Raccoon and chickens trauma

[joshissman]

Hi everyone, Tragic loss here. Sadly i got a new feed from a farm that has molasses in it.. bad idea. It attracted a raccoon (from the tracks it left) and lucky for the raccoon it lead him to my Girls. Im a country boy so ill tell you what happened from the evidence. The raccoon smelt the feed i had gotten about a week before. When he knocked the feed over he either smelt or heard my chickens after he finished the feed he walked in the coop and picked the weakest of the birds which was a 10 week old grey ameraucana. When the raccoon grabbed her i think my dominant hen jumped on the raccoon and was trying to fight it off. Sadly she didn't win the fight and the raccoon decapitated her and im to guess ate her head. Then Ran off with the smaller chicken to feed its young im to assume.It left my larger 15 week old hen there with no head. Ever sens then which has been 2 days they don't want to sleep in the coop and i have to grab them and stick them in there at night, there roosting in trees and what not. Is there a way to help them feel safe in the coop again i have a door on it and lock it at night now so there safe. thanks for the help.
P.S. I will catch that raccoon unless my hen ensured it wouldn't come back.

 

[Naunnie]

So sorry for your loss. I hope you store the feed where nothing can get in it again. It will take awhile for them to feel safe in the coop again. I would make sure nothing can get in. I would also not let them out for awhile. That coon will be back! You may need to make a few more improvements on your coop. Raccoons are very determined! Make sure it won't be able to reach in and grab your chickens.