Raccoons

[Birdinhand]

I lost my whole flock to foxes when I was young and it was devastating. chicken wire should be renamed to something else, it's IMHO useless against coons. hardware cloth should be what is called chicken wire, it keeps out rats and coons if properly secured to 4/4 posts and burried 2 feet down around the edge. as for the coons, I've had friends lose entire flocks to them as well. they are relentless once they figure out they have a source of entertainment and food, especially if they have kits. If they are coming around regularly and if you have a gun or a shovel and a lot of gumption, I'd take them out. now that they have been successful they will keep trying and it will be a headache/heartache until they are gone or until you heavily fortify the coop.

 

[Howard E]

Until someone makes me stop, I'll keep mentioning electric fences. Think of it this way........as is, what does a coon, stray dog or any other varmint have to lose by trying to break in? Nothing. As they see it and as thing stand now, no harm, no foul if they leave you with no live fowl. For all they know, you intentionally served em up and they are doing you a favor.

An electric fence changes all that around in your favor. Now they get to feel what 7,000 (or in my case 14,000) volts of hurt feels like. That is as close to the kiss of death as they are going to get without actually dying. Suddenly, they have a lot to lose and its no more fun and games. Test that fence and a guy could get hurt. So they move on. So if you want to end your coon problems, get and maintain an electric fence.

As to how far to relocate a trapped coon, far enough you won't be bothered by the buzzards when they swoop down to clean him up. But if you don't want to do that, get yourself an electric fence and you won't have to worry about it.

 

[Thomas Pasker]

I have hardware cloth 1/2*1/2 buried 4 inch down, then bent out 12 inch. But for coons there is an easy fix. Works in our corn patch too. We put our a junk radio, tune it to a talk news station, and let it play at night. Doesn't have to be loud, the coons hear it and stay away.
But if all else fails, a 12 gauge will fix the problem too

 

[cacknballs]

So wait, because it killed my chicken, I have a right to kill it myself? If that's the case, then it changes everything.

whether they killed your chickens or not, God gave you dominion over all animals, this is america, and there is the II A...

lead poisoning fixes all problems.

let the air out of every one of them.

best of luck.

 

[bobbi-j]

So wait, because it killed my chicken, I have a right to kill it myself? If that's the case, then it changes everything.

Check your local laws. That's the only way to know for sure. What works for me where I live may not work or be legal for you.

 

[ChickEchick]

Thanks for all of the counsel! I am so sorry to hear about the loss of 20 hens....

We set a trap and the buggar managed to get the food without setting off the trap three nights in a row.... A game camera confirmed we have both a coon and an opossum.

I have reinforced the coop with wire cloth and placed cinder blocks and sections to tree trunk around the base of the entire coop..... I'm not sure how much weight coons can move but I know I had a hard time lifting a couple of the sections...

Fingers crossed!

 

[CABINHOLLOWNC]

Until someone makes me stop, I'll keep mentioning electric fences. Think of it this way........as is, what does a coon, stray dog or any other varmint have to lose by trying to break in? Nothing. As they see it and as thing stand now, no harm, no foul if they leave you with no live fowl. For all they know, you intentionally served em up and they are doing you a favor.

An electric fence changes all that around in your favor. Now they get to feel what 7,000 (or in my case 14,000) volts of hurt feels like. That is as close to the kiss of death as they are going to get without actually dying. Suddenly, they have a lot to lose and its no more fun and games. Test that fence and a guy could get hurt. So they move on. So if you want to end your coon problems, get and maintain an electric fence.

As to how far to relocate a trapped coon, far enough you won't be bothered by the buzzards when they swoop down to clean him up. But if you don't want to do that, get yourself an electric fence and you won't have to worry about it.

I agree 100%!! A REALLY hot fence will stop them and make them think twice about trying again! Electric fencing is also inexpensive in my opinion.

 

[ChickEchick]

I like the radio idea - thanks! I have a battery operated one I can put out every night....that is if I can find it.... HA!

 

[B Redhawk]

We have plans to upgrade to a 10 joule energizer for a four round hot wire with a day/night switch, on at night off during the day so we don't energize ourselves. I'll also have a hot wire or two around the roof of the coop. Electric fence is the best option in my opinion, but I'm not against termination either, the last coon that got into one of our coops met up with a subsonic RWS round.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

So wait, because it killed my chicken, I have a right to kill it myself? If that's the case, then it changes everything.

Be careful with that... In Ct you can take any measure to protect your livestock... but, as I understand it, your property has to be registered as a farm to do so.