Raccoon deterents

[Tala]

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If that kind of stuff worked well, none of us would EVER have raccoon problems.

 

[Greendecember]

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Thanks for yours and other suggestions. Since that night the Guineas have decided perhaps the chickens had it right all along and have been going in the coop at dusk. Last night a couple rebels thought they might hang out till one of my Guinea hens started YELLING

at them and they all decided to go in for the night. TOO Funny!

The current plan is Hubby "marking" his turf and our doberman and LGD out from the time the birds go up till about 10pm. Then the doberman comes in and the side gate is opened for the LGD to have run of the whole property so she can get to her goats or the birds as needed. Then about 6:30am the gate is closed and the doberman goes out with the LGD till about noonish. Then the dobie goes in house and LGD to the goat pen. I open the coop and stand back then arm myself with feed for fear they might eat me!!!

Today my neighbors doberman messed up my schedule. He broke his electric shock collar that detours him from leaving his property. My girls were barkin like mad when I discovered him in the east pasture. So the dogs are our enjoying out BEAUTIFUL freak 70 degree weather today between our bellow freezing temps and my birds are all ticked off in their coop.

Other than the neighbors dog

the rotation of our dogs and birds in the yard seems to be keeping what ever it was at bay. Apparently it doesn't want anything to do with a combined weight of nearly 150 pounds of barking dogs that "just wants to play" with the critter as a squeeky toy.

 

[CritterMama]

I came home from work the other night and noticed the coop door was slightly ajar. I figure my boyfriend had let the chickens out earlier and simply not closed it all the way, or maybe the wind had shut it partially...so I went over and opened the door to make sure all my birdies were there. Lo and behold, sittin' pretty as you please, was a raccoon munching out of the feeder like he belonged there! The chickees were fine, and acted like nothing was going on. One of the girls even went over and started eating right next to the little bandit...he kind of sniffed at her for a moment, but was far more interested in the feeder. I was dumbstruck! (Still am, to be honest...) Needless to say, we booted the little guy from the coop, found where he'd gotten in, and closed it off. But it appears we've got two raccoons who like to hang out underneath (or in, if they can manage) my chicken coop...and the birds are hardly bothered. Any thoughts on this strange alliance? I'm just hoping they've become friends, haha, and that I don't have to worry about a bandit becoming a murderer...

 

[ivan3]

CritterMama wrote: Any thoughts on this strange alliance?

That you've been very lucky.

Lock down the chooks. Place some feed in a couple of traps and retire the vermin.

I wouldn't name our chooks and then tempt the devil.​

 

[user104534]

I haven't tried any pastes or mothballs, but I keep a BB gun under my couch in the event that I see any raccoons and that seems to be pretty effective. If you live out in a large open area though, I'd suggest a .22.

On the subject of prevention, I took a few precautions to make sure no raccoons get into my coop. Firstly, I buried some 1/4" chicken wire about a foot below my coop to keep them from digging in, and all the coop doors are locked with some sliding-bolts, along with latches that have industrial carabiner's on them.(And I flip them upside down to further confuse the coons.)

I use industrial ones because they have much stronger springs than normal ones, and I believe they don't have enough thumb strength to open them long enough to pull off the latch. It also helps if your latches are 3+ feet off the ground so the coons have a hard time reaching them. All these factors add up and will make it really hard for any critters to get in.

I've only seen a single raccoon the whole year so far. A large female sitting under my apple tree snacking on apples. Being that I didn't have my hens yet, and my rabbit was still being housed indoors, I neglected to shoot her.

 

[bgates1970]

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I have done the same thing. I encouraged my kids to do the same. When they are out in the yard and have the urge I tell them to go write their name on the wall of the chicken coop.