Raccoon getting chickens during the day and hour before

[ChickenCanoe]

... There is no shortage of raccoons in these parts. ...

That plus the fact that they are an invasive species in 80% or more of their current range.

 

[cmom]

raccoon IS A FRIEEEEEEEND Not a ennemy

Until they destroy your coop and wipe out all of your birds.

I agree. When a predator kills some of your birds, you might feel differently.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I’m shocked when others think that everyone should see things and do things the same as they see and do

My chickens are quite secure... but I still work to reduce the number of critters that prey on ground nesting birds in our area... it’s just a management practice that benefits ground nesters such as quail, turkey, woodcock, whippoorwills, and many others.... but it does also reduce the threat of a critter becoming a chicken eater too.

We all keep our chickens differently... I know it’s sometimes tough to accept that people are different, but if you work at it, you can get there

There was a huge road kill raccoon on the side of the road in front of my house this morning. I cheered that there was one less attempting to chew up doors and rip the siding off of my coops.

 

[cmom]

I am very lucky. I have seen coons on my game cameras but they haven't bothered my birds or coops. Every now and then these two Great Pyrenees show up. I don't know who they belong to but other neighbors have seen them too.

Just a visitor once in awhile.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Some nights it looks like a raccoon superhighway on game cams here.
Not to mention the opossums, mink, foxes and coyotes.

 

[cmom]

Same here but mostly the coyotes. Last night behind some of the coops. Most nights I get pictures of coyotes behind the coops.

 

[roosterhavoc]

I’m shocked that people are ok with randomly killing animals that have done nothing.
If you are losing birds, then it’s on the owner to secure them better.

I’m shocked people keep birds in cages their whole life. Open the door and see if they’d like to come out and and actually scratch for bugs. I bet given the choice they’d take their chances.

 

[cmom]

I have electric wire around my coops and pens. One DAY a fox dug under a gate where there was no electric wire and killed several birds. Since I have put concrete under all of the gates. I did kill the fox.

 

[clembone]

I’m shocked that people are ok with randomly killing animals that have done nothing.
If you are losing birds, then it’s on the owner to secure them better.

When I was in undergrad, I decided to stop hunting, as it seemed cruel. Then I thought it was wrong to have other people killing animals if I was not ready to do so. I went vegetarian. I went thru thanksgiving and xmas and the easter ham just fine, eating no meat. Then, long about the 4th of july I went to a pig roast. That did it. I went back to eating meat. That was some seriously tasty pig.

However, I also made sure that I regularly tested my resolve by killing the animals I ate with some frequency thereafter. I started hunting and fishing again. I started buying rupture piglets through the local vets.

Getting blood on my hands helps me remember what I am doing and helps me make better decisions. Being a meat eater in this manner has moderated my intake and helps me remember and consider where the animals come from and how they got on my plate. I cheerfully respect those, like yourself, who choose not to kill or eat animals. Be well, and best wishes to you.

 

[cmom]

Here we have a coyote explosion. Nothing preys on the coyotes, but the coyotes will prey on most other critters including bobcats and fox. Pretty much every night I see a coyote on one of my game cameras. When they kill my birds I will kill them.