Raccoon Attack

[EChicky]

Last night, after coming home late, I went outside to check on my girls only to find that none of them had made it in the coop. We have an automatic chicken door that usually closes when the sun goes down, so the fact that all the flock, who was aware of this, hadn’t made it in was strange.
I found two of my girls on the ramp up to the coop, safe and unharmed, but my barred rock and jersey giant were missing.
I found Trixy, my barred rock, dead in the middle of the yard. I had raised her as a chick with her “sister” Beanie (jersey giant) so this hit me really hard. We luckily found beanie wedged behind the shed and unscathed.
I’m really worried, what if the raccoon comes back? Do they do that once they know that there are chickens? We’ve never lost a bird to predators before so it is a new problem for us. Also will the rest of my flock (which is now 3 birds) be okay? Is 3 too little for a flock? And will they show signs of trauma from experiencing this?

 

[sourland]

The predator will return. Is there a predator proof run attached to the coop? I would stop free ranging until the problem is resolved. I'd also check to make sure the automatic door is not closing earlier than it should. A 3 bird flock will be fine, and yes, they will be stressed by the attack. Good luck at achieving a resolution.

 

[EChicky]

The predator will return. Is there a predator proof run attached to the coop? I would stop free ranging until the problem is resolved. I'd also check to make sure the automatic door is not closing earlier than it should. A 3 bird flock will be fine, and yes, they will be stressed by the attack. Good luck at achieving a resolution.

We do have a run. How long should we wait to let them free range again?

 

[sourland]

I personally would wait until the predator had been 'removed'. Until then supervised free ranging would be best. As hungry predators will hunt even during the day.

 

[ChicNmom]

We no longer let ours into the yard if we aren't home. We did for years until we had a loss. I'm surprised now that we did it so long without losing any chickens.

Can you trap the raccoon and kill it?

 

[EChicky]

I’m going to see about setting out a few traps. If anything we are going to give it to a wildlife sanctuary nearby that helps in situations like this.

 

[Folly's place]

Find out what your state laws are concerning predators, look it up on your DNR site, or call them. Your visitor won't be alone either, there's probably a family involved, and they will return until eliminated.
Having a very safe coop and small run will keep your birds safe while you work this out.
And I think that automatic doors can be a problem, either letting the predator inside, or the flock out, when it's not safe.
'Trap and shoot' is often the best plan too.
Mary

 

[peafowl_Lover]

I would lock them into their coop for the time being, for them to calm down and be less stressed. Then I would let them into their run during the day.

 

[Ridgerunner]

what if the raccoon comes back? Do they do that once they know that there are chickens?

They will usually return to a food source.

Also will the rest of my flock (which is now 3 birds) be okay? Is 3 too little for a flock?

To me, three is the minimum size. They are social animals and want others around. If you only have two and lose one, the other is lonely. If you have three and lose one the survivors still have company, but it is a good idea to add another to maintain a minimum of three. And when you add one, it is usually best to add a minimum of two. It makes integration easier.

And will they show signs of trauma from experiencing this?

Probably only for a few days. Hopefully they will be more predator aware for a few days. Chickens are prey animals. While they form attachments to others, they usually get over it in a few days. If they mope around too much it puts them at risk to be the next one. Nothing is ever 100% with animals and their behaviors, you can always have exceptions, but most move on pretty quickly.

We do have a run. How long should we wait to let them free range again?

Any time they free range they are at risk. They are never safe. I've kept mine locked up for a month after a predator attack (fox) and I did not lose any more for a couple of years. BUT

There is a big but here. Why was that predator there? Sometimes a predator is just out roaming. It might be migrating. Maybe Mama Raccoon kicked it out of its safe home and sent him or her on to find their own territory as part or weaning it. Predators of all kinds are always being weaned and sent out to find their own way in the world. That one may have been passing through or it may now have your place in its hunting range.

Maybe something disturbed it and ran it out of its regular territory and it had to move. It could have been a fire, a predator that feeds on raccoons, a human, or maybe a bigger badder raccoon that wanted its territory.

This is why you are never safe. Even if you kill that one another could come in any time. I'm not saying don't kill it. I kill predators I find hunting my area. That reduces the predator pressure from one that is actively hunting my area. But to me the only way you will always be safe is to keep them behind barriers. Predator proof coops and runs.

Some people can go years without a predator attack even when free ranging. The whole time I was growing up Dad only had two predator attacks, a dog and a fox. Both were shot. Other people are wiped out immediately. You just don't know.