Raccoons showed up

[KikiDeAnime]

Had to lock all the birds up tonight as a raccoon had showed up while my dad was taking the trash out. He wasn't quick enough when he went to get the gun but the neighbor(who was also outside) said he's seen them around for a while, at least 3 of them.

Now we have to be on alert until they either leave or we are able to shoot them.

Is there anything I could put around the chicken yard to deter the raccoons? Like something that smells terrible to them or something?

The fence will keep them out but I'd like to deter them from going near. Our dogs will also keep them away since one of our dogs chased one away last year.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Be careful, if the openings in the fence wire are big enough for them to reach through they'll grab your chickens and kill them, even if they can't actually get inside the run. I really don't know of anything that would deter raccoons other than a hot wire around the run. Or a big dog in the yard. And it's been my experience that they really don't leave unless you force them. But maybe I just have stubborn coons lol

 

[50-45-1]

The raccons most likey have been always been around, just later when no one sees them.
Electric fencing will keep them away from the coop.

 

[KikiDeAnime]

Be careful, if the openings in the fence wire are big enough for them to reach through they'll grab your chickens and kill them, even if they can't actually get inside the run. I really don't know of anything that would deter raccoons other than a hot wire around the run. Or a big dog in the yard. And it's been my experience that they really don't leave unless you force them. But maybe I just have stubborn coons lol

The fence openings are too small for them to get into the yard or to the coop inside the yard.

 

[cmom]

I have seen coons around here too, but they don't mess with the electric wire around my coops and pens.

 

[centrarchid]

My raccoons climb fences very well. They do respect electrified fences. Even with electrified fences I use traps. Just trying to shoot them is not an ideal use of time unless they are extremely tame.