Raccoons killed 3 of my birds!

[funkyfrugalmom]

One of my ducks was found dead last night and a couple weeks ago two of my chickens got it, we found the culprit last night when we went to put them to bed. My poor duck was a goner and I could hear the culprit scurrying away in the trees! I have the whole story posted here: http://www.funkyfrugalmommy.com/2015/01/raccoons-brutally-murdered-my-birds.html

Raccoons will get your birds, be careful!

 

[familyfarm1]

I had some raccoon's kill half of my flock 2 years ago.

 

[bobbi-j]

Raccoons are crafty little buggers, and they don't always wait until dark to get your birds. One came into my coop earlier this summer and got my broody hen, leaving her 5 babies orphaned. Fortunately they were 3-4 weeks old a the time and had already been integrated into the flock. Many years ago, I had some Old English Game Birds that slept in a rabbit hutch. I thought they were safe as the doors to the hutch had latched. Several mornings in a row, I went out and found the hutch unlatched, a bird or two missing. At first I got after my son for being careless as he did the evening chores. Then it happened after I did chores one evening and I realized what was going on. (I did apologize to my son) Those masked bandits had figured out the latches! The best thing you can do is fortify your coop and run to keep your birds safe. If you choose to free range, realize there will be losses. If one raccoon can get them, other animals can, too.

 

[funkyfrugalmom]

It is terrible how many precautions you overlook when your a new chicken owner. My biggest threat in my mind was rats and hawks I figured as long as I had my birds coop and run structured and covered it would be safe but I missed the fact that raccoons are such carnivorous brats!

 

[bobbi-j]

It is terrible how many precautions you overlook when your a new chicken owner. My biggest threat in my mind was rats and hawks I figured as long as I had my birds coop and run structured and covered it would be safe but I missed the fact that raccoons are such carnivorous brats!

Chicken keeping is an ongoing learning experience. I've been doing it for over 30 years, and I'm still tweaking things. The thing you need to remember about coop security is, those animals have all night to lurk about and try to figure out how to get in. And like I said before, coons are crafty! And they can do so much with those little "hands" of theirs! We went camping at a state park many years ago, and at dusk the campground was overrun with raccoons. They got into everything that wasn't put away. We watched one open a Tupperware container full of crackers that had been left on a picnic table.

 

[funkyfrugalmom]

Well I am happy there is somewhere to turn for help and support while I learn how to raise my chickens. It is hard to learn such hard lessons when you grow to love them so much. RIP Scooby, Henrietta, and Big D.

 

[stake]

Good evening all:

Got home from work tonight and found one of my girls had fallen to what I think was a racoon....I am suburban, but have all types of critters in my neighborhood...so, found some of her feathers near the coop door,,,,think she was pulled off the roost.....found her about 20yds away without her head or neck....my pooch found that one of her wings had been pulled off too(at the last joint)...the coop and pen was open...but won't be any more....will #6 do the job?

 

[funkyfrugalmom]

I am so sorry to hear about your little lady, I feel your pain and hope you keep your others safe. I feel like a jerk asking but what is a #6?

 

[Chquinta]

I had the same problem but mine is possums. I've lost 2 of my chickens and hope not anymore. 1 of mine was missing a head also but now that yall mentioned it probably was a raccoon not a possum but I've killed 2 possums in my pen.