Raccoons around

[jamziez]

My husband and I have had chickens for about a year now and have had no problems with predators until last night. A raccoon got into our coop. My husband left their window open because it was very warm, and we assume to coon managed to get under the wire around the window and into the coop. We both heard the chickens squaking so we ran out there, and thankfully it only managed to kill 2 of our 8 birds. He ended up tucking himself into their laying box and we had to poke him with a stick to get him out! Our coop is pretty secure when the window is closed. Everything latches closed and there's no gaps anywhere. Should we be worried about the raccoon returning and trying to kill the rest of our flock? I put out ammonia soaked rags around the coop, I read that can deter them.

 

[bobbi-j]

It will likely be back now that it has found food. What do you have covering the window opening that it got through? 1/2" hardware cloth is a good window covering, secured around all the edges. It is important for the chickens to have good ventilation and air movement so they don't get too hot.

 

[ejcrist]

My husband and I have had chickens for about a year now and have had no problems with predators until last night. A raccoon got into our coop. My husband left their window open because it was very warm, and we assume to coon managed to get under the wire around the window and into the coop. We both heard the chickens squaking so we ran out there, and thankfully it only managed to kill 2 of our 8 birds. He ended up tucking himself into their laying box and we had to poke him with a stick to get him out! Our coop is pretty secure when the window is closed. Everything latches closed and there's no gaps anywhere. Should we be worried about the raccoon returning and trying to kill the rest of our flock? I put out ammonia soaked rags around the coop, I read that can deter them.

He will absolutely, most definitely be back. You can bank on that. If you keep your coop secure he'll give up after a few days and look for a meal elsewhere. If you live in a place where you can dispatch him I would do that. A coon that finds food is the most persistent animal I've ever encountered. If you continue to have problems and decide to trap him using a live trap, please don't release him or he'll just come back.

 

[Folly's place]

Every opening in your coop needs hardware cloth, well secured. Ventilation is critical for your birds, but so is predator protection. Your varmit will be back; live trap and shoot!!! Don't trap if you can't kill; relocation is illegal and bad for everyone. Mary