raccoon living in neighbors hedge - what can I do to protect my chicken

[bobbi-j]

I’m not concerned about the poor raccoon not fitting into its new environment. I am more concerned about the possibility of moving rabies or distemper into a new area. Or dumping off a now trap-wise animal near someone else’s chickens.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Why is live trapping not an option?

Live trap. Worth their weight in gold!!

 

[Zwillingsmama]

As much as I would love to trap. My city does not allow trapping. It is illeagal and I need to find a different solution- shooting is also no option as it is inner city.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Okay you live in SF call animal control they set traps you call them when the coons in the trap. Bet they’d come back for babies too. Once they like a spot they raise families. ASPCA PETA HUMANE SOCIETY start calling.

 

[Zwillingsmama]

In San Mateo county animal control refers you to private trapper for raccoon stunk etc problems. I would have to pay a few hundred bucks to have them removed. And that every time a raccoon pops up. That is cost prohibitive.

 

[llombardo]

Animal control will not come and get them. They will give direction on how to live with them. They are not concerned with chickens.

I'm going through the same thing with a whole family of raccoons, one huge one. They have been trying to get into the enclosed run. I got the electric fence around the bottom, my ussue is the top. Even with a heavy duty net I know they can jump from fence to enclosure. I finally called the company that I got the electric fence. They advised a two wire system which I already have in place, now I just need to ground it with insulated wire.

This is how I ran the wire on the top

 

[MissChick@dee]

Well you know your choices.
Good luck.

 

[Zwillingsmama]

This business about relocation being a problem... that is just another way to make one's life unnecessarily difficult.... if you should get hold of the varmint, and you don't want to kill it, and you want to release it, take it out into the woods and let it out. Don't get bit. It will have to fit itself in to the wild environment but last time I drove down a country road, there were plenty of dead raccoons, possums and skunks to let me think new openings are always coming around.

Happfrenchman do you run 2 wires around the perimeter maybe 4 and 20 in height? Would that work?
Just checked trapper takes 225 for setting the trap and 150 for each animal. I think I am in the wrong business lol
I guess I try the electric fence

 

[happyfrenchman]

You will get no satisfaction waiting for animal control or DNR or whatever it is in your area.... And as for legality.... they will tell you (as will others) what is illegal, but they won't do a thing to help you. So many things I do routinely that people will say... oh no you cannot do that.... or, "Oh that is illegal". No kidding... If that racoon wouldn't turn himself in on his own recognizance then you are going to have to handle it. You can do it if you decide to. If you are waiting for some government entity to help you out, you will get nowhere.

I say kill the predator and dispose of it in a means it will not be found. (A dumpster if you are in the city). Do not tell anyone that might have something to say about it. Then wash your hands and take your wife out to dinner.

I would seriously recommend becoming more self sufficient at handling these kind of issues yourself if you want to have chickens because no one else is going to help you out with this and you will find chickens very frustrating if you follow all the stupid rules set up by the pezzonovante that care nothing for you or yours. Good luck. Don't be squeamish... take your place at the top of the food chain.

 

[happyfrenchman]

Happfrenchman do you run 2 wires around the perimeter maybe 4 and 20 in height? Would that work?
Just checked trapper takes 225 for setting the trap and 150 for each animal. I think I am in the wrong business lol
I guess I try the electric fence

\

The electric fence is ideal. I do not have one. I have a dog and a rifle... but the electic fence is ideal even for someone like me. If I were going to do one, I would use hot wires only, and make the ground side of the system the actual hardware cloth or wire of the coop..... so that anything climbing it, when it touched the hot would be shocked off. Hot wires placed in places that are hard to avoid if you are climbing on or up. the placement of the hot wires would depend on your setup.... I think people generally put at least one around the low bottom and then further up they put them across. the low one would be to deter diggers or just nosers.