Raccoon Problems - Need Advice

[abbeypatti]

A raccoon killed 2 of my flock and we are scrambling abit to keep the other girls safe.

This attack was in the run, and the coop is secure currently, but we plan on double checking today on any weak points.

We are gonna fix the run today but any advice on how to keep raccoons and others away till we have a new dog and have trained them would be great. (First year without a dog, and we have been having problems since we don't have one.)

I do have a critter trap and might see if we can trap the raccoon attacking, but we need some better long term ideas for now.

 

[SueT]

Did the attack happen during the daytime?
Trap the one(s) that are getting in, by putting the trap in the run. Long term would be getting a dog… good luck, let us know how it goes!

 

[abbeypatti]

Did the attack happen during the daytime?
Trap the one(s) that are getting in, by putting the trap in the run. Long term would be getting a dog… good luck, let us know how it goes!

Early in the morning and the evening. Been trying to encourage my family to get us a new dog but they are still very upset over our last one dying. (Which is understandable, loved her too, but we need to get moving cause well, this is happening).

 

[Derrick]

Z Trap

https://www.ztraps.net/product/ztrap-rascal-pack-brown/20

 

[nuthatched]

Can you not let the birds out until later in the morning?

 

[abbeypatti]

Can you not let the birds out until later in the morning?

We can, but its getting them in early that is the issue. They won't go in till evening and that is when the raccoon attacks.

 

[SueT]

I see a lot of livestock guardian dogs/puppies for sale or free around here in SW Missouri. We don’t have a guardian dog, but neighbors on 2 sides do and raccoons have not been after our flock in the past 2 yrs. Maybe because of these dogs. There were some problem raccoons before, tho only after dark. I trapped the ones that were getting in the run and relocated them to a wildlife area 30 miles away. So far, so good.

 

[abbeypatti]

I see a lot of livestock guardian dogs/puppies for sale or free around here in SW Missouri. We don’t have a guardian dog, but neighbors on 2 sides do and raccoons have not been after our flock in the past 2 yrs. Maybe because of these dogs. There were some problem raccoons before, tho only after dark. I trapped the ones that were getting in the run and relocated them to a wildlife area 30 miles away. So far, so good.

Dogs are very good at keeping pests away! so long as their smell is around the area they will keep things at bay.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Trap and dispatch thats what I do caught 7 coons in one month at my old place now all i caught so far was a possum

 

[townchicks]

I'm sorry you are going through losing your chickens, on top of losing your dog. That is tough. Fixing your run to be raccoon proof is totally doable, and lots faster that getting past the grief of losing a pet. Photos of the run will help us advise on next steps. Your folks will get a new dog in their own time. A dog is helpful in repelling pests, yes, but still no guarantees, a safe run is the best plan.