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

[bobbi-j]

Like I stated you can call those companies but they are expensive 225 to set the trap plus 150 for each animal trapped. +\- minimal Company differences. I can look into illegally trapping them myself but I bet my husband will object to that one - he is a city boy lol

Your best option is to keep the raccoons out of your coop and run, as you stated. Electric is relatively inexpensive, non-lethal and effective when installed properly. If you have kids that play outside, you can unplug the fence when they're little, or let them learn from natural consequences as they get older.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

... said that her husband is a city boy... would not be comfortable shooting or trapping a wild animal... There is no magic answer!...

If the OP's hubby is a city boy and being a city boy suddenly means that your are immune to killing raccoons, then why are all the city boys in places like Chicago offing each other at record levels?

Anyway, why then did a city boy get it into his noggin to do country boy things like keeping chickens, knowing that there were no magic answers?

 

[MissChick@dee]

There are way more than 2 juvenile raccoons living in your area. If the truth is known there may be 20 or more of all ages. Assuming that your raccoon population is not into virgin births means there is a minimum of 4 coons who call your yard home.

They all look alike

 

[Zwillingsmama]

Thank you all for your input. City boy didn’t want chickens it was me and I thought I would be ok with what I have done to keep the chicken safe. I didn’t put into consideration that raccoons could come out during day time - my bad. I guess I will put an electric fence around the run next weekend and possibly Convert the run into an raccoon proof area in the near future.

 

[FT Chickens]

Thank you all for your input. City boy didn’t want chickens it was me and I thought I would be ok with what I have done to keep the chicken safe. I didn’t put into consideration that raccoons could come out during day time - my bad. I guess I will put an electric fence around the run next weekend and possibly Convert the run into an raccoon proof area in the near future.

Hefty portion of rat poison mixed with Pepsi will do the trick. Just don't let your dogs or chickens get into it, will take care of the rats also. Hopefully bodies will end up in neighbors yard. Then play dumb

 

[Wil781]

Thank you all for your input. City boy didn’t want chickens it was me and I thought I would be ok with what I have done to keep the chicken safe. I didn’t put into consideration that raccoons could come out during day time - my bad. I guess I will put an electric fence around the run next weekend and possibly Convert the run into an raccoon proof area in the near future.

All you can do is your best! My advise for what it is worth is:

Assuming you are in city limits, I would raise a stink with city hall, police dept, etc., about having animal control or if you live in the county have a game warden, out to my property and have them take care of removing the raccoons from your area due to the fact they do carry disease. If a rabid dog was invading your property I guarantee you someone would be out to take care of that problem. Get on the phone and don't stop until you get results. If not get a friend who hunts to come and get rid of it for you. If it is against the law then the law better fix it. Good luck!

 

[Northern.Ontario]

Someone already suggested the drowning method. Get a 40 or 50 gallon rain barrel, fill it with water and place the trapped coon inside, walk away. Probably more legal than relocating or using a firearm within city limits. That's how my grandpa would deal with the overrun of stray cats on his farm 50 years ago. Cats go in the barrel + fill with water = done. Electric fencing within the city may also be illegal.

 

[bobbi-j]

Someone already suggested the drowning method. Get a 40 or 50 gallon rain barrel, fill it with water and place the trapped coon inside, walk away. Probably more legal than relocating or using a firearm within city limits. That's how my grandpa would deal with the overrun of stray cats on his farm 50 years ago. Cats go in the barrel + fill with water = done. Electric fencing within the city may also be illegal.

I think electric fence would be more acceptable than drowning - especially in an urban setting. There are animal rights organizations that would wreak all kinds of havoc with someone drowning an animal.

 

[Zwillingsmama]

Ordered an electric fence that I will put up on the weekend so the coons stay out of my property all together. Since it’s not that big that should be achievable. Maybe the chicken, the raccoons and I can all live without killing each other , though I am still out killing the rats.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Have you considered salting the hedge and blaming someone's dog for peeing on it too many times?