Raccoons can't jump

[Intheswamp]

What? You worried about little ol' me?

 

[SallyF]

They may not jump, but somehow in SC they managed to crawl all over the hood of my truck and leave little raccoon paw prints all over it in the coating of pollen. Guess they crawled up over the bumpers or something.

 

[Intheswamp]

Beware of any protruding screwheads ...even this slight "handhold" can be used by coons to climb...just a single claw-hold is all they need to get to the next "rung on their ladder". You could go ahead and build the front from either metal or wood,but come back and install a sheet of smooth metal over the top 2-3 feet of the wall. Only attach the extra metal at the top. This would give a completely smooth surface with no cracks or crevices for a coon to get a claw-hold on. Leaving it unfastened at the bottom would give a slightly unstable surface which would further perplex the coon.

Just some thoughts...
Best wishes,
Ed

ETA: Be sure to consider the surrounding walls also being as the coon can climb up and over and come in from the side or top, also. The entire perimeter around the coop has to be climb-proofed for an appropriate distance from the opening.

 

[patandchickens]

It will be difficult to make the coop so that nothing can climb it. Honestly, it takes very little for an animal to grab onto. The 'people door' jamb might well be enough, then a raccoon would just have to get a good enough handhold where the roof-overhang meets the sidewall to swing around to the opening and presto, no more chickens.

Also dogs and coyotes and foxes jump REAL well, and weasels/minks/felines are not bad at it either, not to mention that owls will fly right in that slot if it is left open at night. (If it is not left open at night, I do not think that the coop itself is what you need to be coonproofing, it's the *run*).

JMHO, trying to save you from costly mistakes (costly both in terms of $$ and in terms of chickens and aggravation)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Mark]

yotetrapper wrote:
>You'd have to make the whole front of the coop out of stainless
>or some other slick metal, as if it is wood, they WILL climb right up it.

intheswamp wrote:
>Beware of any protruding screwheads ...
>even this slight "handhold" can be used by coons to climb.

Good points.

It might be more difficult for the raccoon if the exterior is done in traditional 'fortress' style, and the entry (complete with seemless metal walls) is entirely inside. Entry would also be a quick exit.

 

[bagendhens]

racoons CANNOT jump
(though its funny to see them try) and as others said they are however excelent climbers and can "stretch" quite well somethins as small as a screw head not being sunk will give them a hand hold belive it or not...

the method posted works very well as long as the feeding platform is far enough away from the "launching pad" lol

a fox however clear that jump, they are more agile than cats.

 

[Lumenos]

Hi, I just learned of this thread after starting a similar one. I was thinking this would be the best way to stop pests (rats) or predators that can't jump or fly as far as poultry. To stop birds of prey and cats, I was thinking of having the coop entrance only open to a chickenwire run. To stop large canines I was going to have a corridor behind the entrance, with many posts requiring turns too sharp for a large canine, but possible for poultry. More details here . This is really helping me plan. Thanks to all who contributed.

 

[patandchickens]

Hi, I just learned of this thread after starting a similar one. I was thinking this would be the best way to stop pests (rats) or predators that can't jump or fly as far as poultry. To stop birds of prey and cats, I was thinking of having the coop entrance only open to a chickenwire run.

So you just replace the chickenwire when necessary? HOw does that compare to the cost of 2x4 welded wire mesh?

To stop large canines I was going to have a corridor behind the entrance, with many posts requiring turns too sharp for a large canine, but possible for poultry.

What keeps out SMALLER canines, or large canines more agile than you are anticipating?


Pat​

 

[Mtn Cur]

I promise that coons can jump. I coon hunt with my mtn curs and have seen numerous coons jump on a tree way before being at the base of the trunk. You may stand less of a chance of a coon getting in based on the site you provided. But I assure you they can and will jump if they are hungry.

 

[silkiechicken]

You may think a hamster can't jump, but when frightened, that little 6 inch body can pop a foot straight up a metal vent duct... we lost our hamster as a kid down the central heating in our house. Dad went to go get it out by crawling under the house and listening for where the hamster was and pulling out sections to see if he could catch it. Well, second try he pulled out a section to look eye to eye to the beady eyed hamster, the hamster got scared, and literally popped out of the ventilation system straight up and out the vent under the kitchen sink he initially went down. Boy that was funny. Our white hamster came out grey.