Raccoon attack

[lissyann84]

Hello, a raccoon attacked our ducks last night we have their pen right outside our bedroom but didn't hear a thing. Two of my sweet ducks didn't survive the attack but the other two did. One doesn't seen too bad she won't leave her buddy's side but he is pretty beat up he holds his neck close to his body and softly quacks and tries to stay in one spot as much as possible they don't want to be caught and we don't want to stress them out even more so we just gently moved them into the chicken area. Any recommendations as for treatment would surely be appeciated.

 

[casportpony]

So sorry for your losses. You might find some helpful information here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/graphic-need-some-help-duck-attacked-by-dog.1264141/

Can you post some pictures of the injuries?

 

[lissyann84]

So sorry for your losses. You might find some helpful information here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/graphic-need-some-help-duck-attacked-by-dog.1264141/

Can you post some pictures of the injuries?

Thank you, yes I will post some pictures tomorrow when it is light out.

 

[bruceha2000]

Don't know about the injury but expect the coon to come back. Soon. However it got in has to be fixed faster than ASAP. Hope you drake recovers.

 

[lissyann84]

We tried to take extra precautions to make sure nothing gets in again. Hoping it holds, it has been rainy and muddy today.

 

[llombardo]

My worst nightmare. The coons are lurking here. They woke me up from a sound sleep last night bickering with each other. I left my german shepherd out there and he will be out again tonite.

Can I ask what were the ducks in that the raccoons got in to? A run? A house? I do not know what else to do here to make them safe. I have even considered bringing all of them in at night, but that really isn't feasible.

 

[bruceha2000]

Coop with all openings covered with 1/2" hardware cloth. If you have a real infestation, hot wire attached to the coop and run. Give them a reason to look elsewhere.

 

[lissyann84]

They have their own little house and a large fenced in area with their pool my husband thinks they climbed the fence. We are out in the country so we have lots of coons and possums etc but this is the first time anything has attacked my sweet flock .The chickens are right next door in their own coop but nothing bothered them.

 

[lissyann84]

Coop with all openings covered with 1/2" hardware cloth. If you have a real infestation, hot wire attached to the coop and run. Give them a reason to look elsewhere.

That's a great idea thank you. I think we may look into the hot wire this weekend .

 

[llombardo]

So were they in the house or the pen. I just put mine away and I'm not kidding when I say I pray for their safety nightly.

I do not mean to hi jack this thread, but there has to be a way to protect these guys. I'm so hesitant about electric fencing because of my dogs. Is there a way to just have it on at night? The run itself is hardware cloth from top to bottom, heavy duty netting on top, and hardware cloth 2 feet on ground almost all the way around. One area I shoved it in there because a fence is up against it.

Here is my duck house. On the top openings there is hardware cloth but I'm thinking of putting metal vents bolted on. Will that be enough air flow? The other side has the same thing but it's up against the coop(I looked at that just now too--thinking about adding another door to the existing door there) these raccoons are making me really nervous.