Raccoon problem!

[Spires6]

I'm so sorry. There is almost nothing worse than finding dead chickens in a coop in the morning. I am having the same problem here. Secure your coop so there is no possible way for them to get in and use electric fence around it. Kill as many raccoons as you can. You might consider keeping the chickens in for a few weeks until you have eliminated as many coons as possible including, hopefully, the ones who killed your chickens. Good luck!

 

[Leah S]

did some research and maybe a good deterrent are those motion lights. We have one sitting in the basement, hopefully hubby will put it up sooner rather than later.
has anyone used those lights with any luck?

 

[Leah S]

Quote:
I know!! I keep thinking about what if i did not see the tail and tossed those poor chickens in there with him. Can't imagine what I would have found the next morning.
They are so smart! did some research on them and given enough time they will figure out a way it seems. Glad to have a hubby who likes to practice his target shooting.

 

[1livelychick]

I have motion detectors around the barn. So far, no problems at night. The attacks I have are during the day. Coyotes!

We have a Pit bull and rotweiler that runs the property at night. They've killed one coyote so far....
Good luck..sorry you're going through this...chickens are a predator magnet.

 

[chefchick]

Yikes! Thanks for this post. I was all set to move my little cluckers outside today, but I just saw where coons can eat through chicken wire??!! Our run is covered with 1/4" and 1/2" hardware cloth, but we figured they would be okay during the day with a double layer chicken wire top to save $$.(it was given to us) If my chicks are going to be inside at night the door to the inside of the coop is heavily weighted, do you think I should still redo the top of my run?

 

[rivers2011]

so no one has found that lime works to keep the coons away? a neighbour suggested it and i was hoping it'd be a solution...

 

[FarmerRob]

Chicken wire is only useful for keeping chickens in. It is Useless for keeping racoons and some other predators out. A grown racoon can rip right through the stuff and go get their supper.

I think the best approach is to make your coop and run into Fort Knox for chickies. Heavy woven wire with hardware cloth along the bottom at the very least. And IMHO you must have electric. Don't go cheapie on the fence charger (BTW the way to judge a charger is by Joules Output--don't be mislead by acres covered or miles ratings.) You want to make a strong impression on would-be diners at your coop. A really good zap or two should send them looking for an easier meal somewhere else.

I like putting lots of offset strands of HT smooth hot wires, as in every few inches all the way up. I belive in overkill. And of course you cannot ignore the overhead--strong netting or wire. Even if a coon can't get in through the top hawks, owls, etc. can.