Raccoon problems and how to keep them away, help!

[zaraif]

Hey I'm new to raising chickens. My chickens are 6 1/2 weeks old and have moved outside permanently now. They seem very happy. A couple nights ago my coop, a refurbished Tike's house, was infiltrated and my injured chicken was gone. My other three seem fine, but last night this happened again. None were hurt, but my side windows seem to be the primary way to get in. I have a block of wood barring the windows shut along with a spring hook. I know raccoons are very crafty and I don't want anything more to happen to my chickens! I would like my coop to stay mobile for more of a variety for the chickens and I would also like to not have to shoot anything. Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[teach1rusl]

Do you have hardware cloth over the windows??? If not, get that screw on there (with wide metal washers) asap. Do you have pics of your set-up?? It's really hard to advice with no pics to go on. If you have raccoons testing the waters, which you obviously do, the first thing you need to do is raccoon proof your coop. You can trap/dispose of raccoons, but there will always be more down the road to take their place.
Obviously, putting food away (dog/cat food included) at night will help, but won't necessarily totally discourage them...
Pics would be great...

 

[zaraif]

I use one of the windows for gettin their food and water refilled and whatnot, so no hardwear cloth.... I'll try and upload pictures soon! Thanks! Oh and another concern is will they dig under the coop?

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Yes, any number of chicken eaters will dig under a coop- racoons, fox, weasels, skunks, and dogs.

 

[zaraif]

Anyway I can avoid that as well?

 

[teach1rusl]

Are you able to get pics? A wire skirt around the the house would help a lot with potential diggers. But it'd just be a lot easier to give constructive advice if we had pics to go on...

 

[Wishing4Wings]

We dug a trench around the coop/run and buried 3' wide wire cloth about 18" deep and extended the other 18" up above ground to give extra security down low. Raccoons will also reach in and pull whatever part of a chicken they can grab through the wire. Gross, but it has happened (we had a hen with one wing when I was a kid).

I have also heard of people lining the outside of the coop with large rocks or pavers to discourage digging.

 

[teach1rusl]

zaraif - this link may help you. Go three posts down and see how this person has hardware cloth over any/all openings, and has locks/latches on doors. This is what you need to do to keep your birds safe in that regard.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/363768/playhouse-coop

 

[zaraif]

Thanks teach1rusl,
that was helpful! when i upload some pictures of my lock and whatnot, maybe you guys can tell me if that would be a good lock. The wood on top of the run is a sliding door, i just put it there for some shade. The windows are the same on both sides. This back door is where I plan to collect eggs.

 

[zaraif]

I took a Closer look at the ground around the coop and it looks like a raccoon has been digging....