Raccoons and Chickens

[aroostercalledBrownie]

Hi y'all!
I've been having terrible luck with raccoons, they're able to climb the fences, and I'm worried they'll get into the coop. I have no idea how to keep them away, and how to stop them living in the yard. Last year I had a loss of a young roo due to raccoons.Any advice on keeping them out of the yard low-budget? Thanks!

 

[Folly's place]

It's necessary to have a very safe night time coop for your birds, at least. Having a safe run is the next necessary project for them, especially for times when they can't be out in the yard.
Of course raccoons, and many other predators, can get over or under fences!
Electric fencing, or electric poultry netting, works very well against many ground predators, if properly set up. See @Howard E , @cmom , and Premier1supplies.com for help with electric fencing set-ups.
Having no food or treats outside of the coop helps.
Only trap if you will then shoot them!
Mary

 

[DaisyG2317]

Agree with Mary. If you trap them you must shoot. They will return if you release. Husband and I downed 5 of them in a row one night. Getting a little too familiar with our property. If you are firearms adverse, a high caliber pellet gun will suffice.

Make sure you have no barrel bolts on your coop/run. We put lockable hasps with a keyed padlock on every door. At a minimum you should strongly consider some kind of covered run. Raccoons are too smart for their own good.

 

[crazychicken-chickk]

Hi y'all!
I've been having terrible luck with raccoons, they're able to climb the fences, and I'm worried they'll get into the coop. I have no idea how to keep them away, and how to stop them living in the yard. Last year I had a loss of a young roo due to raccoons.Any advice on keeping them out of the yard low-budget? Thanks!

I have lost a lot of chickens due to raccoons too. I put a light outside the coop and I use a carabiner clip on my locks. Also, make sure you do not have any food laying around.

 

[swampfox440]

Agree with Mary. If you trap them you must shoot. They will return if you release. Husband and I downed 5 of them in a row one night. Getting a little too familiar with our property. If you are firearms adverse, a high caliber pellet gun will suffice.

Make sure you have no barrel bolts on your coop/run. We put lockable hasps with a keyed padlock on every door. At a minimum you should strongly consider some kind of covered run. Raccoons are too smart for their own good.

 

[swampfox440]

I agree with you , they used to trap them here no more and now we get over run with them . It's never ending battle

 

[DaisyG2317]

I agree with you , they used to trap them here no more and now we get over run with them . It's never ending battle

Our "visitors" were lurking in a tree nearby and they were plinked out one by one, lol

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

A Duke brand dog proof trap is also very effective against raccoons. The traps are also cost-efficient, $15 or less for a trap. Plenty of videos on youtube re how to set, what bait to use, etc. And yes please euthanize the raccoon when u catch it. Otherwise, even if u take it far away from Your property, u would be potentially releasing it in proximity to find and harm someone else's poultry. If u dont/cant/wont euthanize it, then turn your coop into a ft knox fortress, & dont underestimate a raccoons ability to find Any weak spot. Raccoons are smart, strong, & deadly.

 

[cmom]

I agree. We have the recipients of others relocations. We are rural on a dead end road. If I catch a predator I eliminate it if it bothers my birds. In years past I have put out leg traps but more and more people are selling off portions of their properties and people are buying and building new homes. Many years ago we were the last house off the main road but not anymore. Now I use only live traps. I bait the traps and let the predator that causes any problems take the bait for a few days and then set the traps and catch them. They get used to going in the trap for the bait. So far it works good. I have caught some cats that either someone dropped off or were feral. They were not nice kitty's. Also a couple of fox that killed some birds and a bobcat that also killed some birds. The bobcat was the reason I put the electric wires around the coops and pens. It dug under a fence and one night killed 14 birds. It didn't come back the next night but did the following night. Bye Bye kitty...

 

[cmom]

I do use spring latch hooks and so far so good.