raccoons

[rIrs roost]

I had a rir that was good at first but after a couple years started being a butt. Bo 's is docile along with buff bantam brahma's in my experience .

 

[abraga]

I have RIRs..orpingtons and brahma...my RIR hens are always following me around and seem to enjoy me picking them up and petting them. They r my egg chickens. I also have the tiny little serama chickens..they r my pets/hobby...and they really enjoy being held/petted..and they r so darn cute! When my girl was growing up..we raised bantam size cochins..they did well with her..its mostly roosters that u need to watch..some can b real stinkers when they get older...no matter what bred they are.

 

[99grace]

Guys I am so sad today a man was waving his arms around and shouting us over the fence,we had only just got in from school and we went onto the allotments and he said there is a ferret here and it's attacking your chickens and me my mum and my dad were shocked and horrified my mum and dad and the man looked around but I ran straight to the shed to check if Coco my Cochin bantam was ok and if her chicks were ok To but the chicks weren't even in the shed they were roaming around but I just needed to check on Coco but all I saw was a dead body covered and surrounded in blood but at least she died saving her chicks and she looked proud Bless her R.I.P COCO WE LOVE YOU!!❤ also the ferret killed another chicken called Millie and got a good old bite on Skye one of Another chickens chicks they are about 2 months a month maybe the bite is that bad you can see the bone on her neck and her brain the ferret bit her just below her comb I don't think she will make it though but I hope so but after my dog killed the ferret my dog also got bitten in the process Alsp the chicks don't have a mum now and they are 4 weeks old I feel so so so so so so sorry for them and I hope Millie and Coco are ok and not in pain R.I.P 25/07/17 We're still going strong Also I hate ferretsThey kill anything and everything x

 

[Roxanne c.28]

I've got raccoon questions.
I live in Texas. I live on 80 acres with a pond in front, a river in back and a lake a couple acres over. I realize I'm a hot spot area for coons. I've got about 20 birds and five turkeys. I free range. I can't stand to take it from them. I've had coons rob me of a few birds before I caught on to what was up. I've removed a female and a male coon. I booby trapped perches after the birds roost by putting panels leaned up under them so if they climb to get to the birds on the perch they'll pull the panel over on top of themselves. Put hot sauce on feed bin lids and Set a trap up in the door way. Stalk my property like a nut bag at night for a couple hours. Never the same times. Sometimes my intent is to be quite and shoot what ever I see other times I'm loud. I knocked down their nest tree, buried a burrow and left my scent on obvious trails, ran the dogs too.
My question, am I doing any good at running them out or at least making my farm a scary place?

 

[abraga]

I have pretty much the same set up..30ac..a pond...woods along property line..and I to free range my birds. I have it all..coyotes..coon..fox..weasal..skunk..possum and hawks! I run my dogs to..let them pee all over the coop..and we pee around the area .i trained all my chickens to come when called...so I put them in lockdown at night. They have a coop with a wood floor to prevent critters from digging under and the coop sits up about a foot off the ground. During the day thet will run under the coop if a hawk is overhead. I keep it clean/clear underneath so no varmint can hide. I'm a bit of a nut to...always have my eyes/ears open. I think ur probly havin some effect...but..once they know where a free meal is...they will always be back. As for free ranging..u can't protect them all the time.and some predators travel and will not know ur habits. mayb u should consider a livestock dog. Pyrenees r popular here..most farmers keep them with thier livestock. One of my neighbors raises sheep..he shoots 100+ coyotes a year! Unfortunately..i think when we free range our birds...something will inevitably have one for dinner. Other than that...i don't know how far ur birds range..there is a electric fence system made for poultry that you could put up on a few acres..its like netting...would give them protection somewhat during the day.

 

[rIrs roost]

Guys I am so sad today a man was waving his arms around and shouting us over the fence,we had only just got in from school and we went onto the allotments and he said there is a ferret here and it's attacking your chickens and me my mum and my dad were shocked and horrified my mum and dad and the man looked around but I ran straight to the shed to check if Coco my Cochin bantam was ok and if her chicks were ok To but the chicks weren't even in the shed they were roaming around but I just needed to check on Coco but all I saw was a dead body covered and surrounded in blood but at least she died saving her chicks and she looked proud Bless her R.I.P COCO WE LOVE YOU!!❤ also the ferret killed another chicken called Millie and got a good old bite on Skye one of Another chickens chicks they are about 2 months a month maybe the bite is that bad you can see the bone on her neck and her brain the ferret bit her just below her comb I don't think she will make it though but I hope so but after my dog killed the ferret my dog also got bitten in the process Alsp the chicks don't have a mum now and they are 4 weeks old I feel so so so so so so sorry for them and I hope Millie and Coco are ok and not in pain R.I.P 25/07/17 We're still going strong Also I hate ferretsThey kill anything and everything x

So sorry to hear about your chickens. But your right they went out knowing that they were protecting those babies.

I've got raccoon questions.
I live in Texas. I live on 80 acres with a pond in front, a river in back and a lake a couple acres over. I realize I'm a hot spot area for coons. I've got about 20 birds and five turkeys. I free range. I can't stand to take it from them. I've had coons rob me of a few birds before I caught on to what was up. I've removed a female and a male coon. I booby trapped perches after the birds roost by putting panels leaned up under them so if they climb to get to the birds on the perch they'll pull the panel over on top of themselves. Put hot sauce on feed bin lids and Set a trap up in the door way. Stalk my property like a nut bag at night for a couple hours. Never the same times. Sometimes my intent is to be quite and shoot what ever I see other times I'm loud. I knocked down their nest tree, buried a burrow and left my scent on obvious trails, ran the dogs too.
My question, am I doing any good at running them out or at least making my farm a scary place?

Sounds like you're doing what you can. Only other thing that I'd suggest is try to find any ways that they can get in the coop and block them off as best as you can. I'd keep the panels just incase they did make it inside the coop just as a second line of defense .

 

[Roxanne c.28]

So sorry to hear about your chickens. But your right they went out knowing that they were protecting those babies.

Sounds like you're doing what you can. Only other thing that I'd suggest is try to find any ways that they can get in the coop and block them off as best as you can. I'd keep the panels just incase they did make it inside the coop just as a second line of defense .

Thank you. Ever hear of a radio being played at night having any effect?

 

[rIrs roost]

Thank you. Ever hear of a radio being played at night having any effect?

I've heard people doing that but I have no experience with it. Sounds like a great idea though.

 

[Roxanne c.28]

I have pretty much the same set up..30ac..a pond...woods along property line..and I to free range my birds. I have it all..coyotes..coon..fox..weasal..skunk..possum and hawks! I run my dogs to..let them pee all over the coop..and we pee around the area .i trained all my chickens to come when called...so I put them in lockdown at night. They have a coop with a wood floor to prevent critters from digging under and the coop sits up about a foot off the ground. During the day thet will run under the coop if a hawk is overhead. I keep it clean/clear underneath so no varmint can hide. I'm a bit of a nut to...always have my eyes/ears open. I think ur probly havin some effect...but..once they know where a free meal is...they will always be back. As for free ranging..u can't protect them all the time.and some predators travel and will not know ur habits. mayb u should consider a livestock dog. Pyrenees r popular here..most farmers keep them with thier livestock. One of my neighbors raises sheep..he shoots 100+ coyotes a year! Unfortunately..i think when we free range our birds...something will inevitably have one for dinner. Other than that...i don't know how far ur birds range..there is a electric fence system made for poultry that you could put up on a few acres..its like netting...would give them protection somewhat during the day.

That's my next step is a door to lock it down at night. Right now it's just a trap framed into place with hot sauce all along the top so ideally the only way in is the trap. The dog is a good suggestion too, I've got one but she's just a pup yet learning well. Alerts and will run em with me. Ever hear of playing a radio at night in the coup? Maybe death metal or something? ha ha!

 

[Sara Ranch]

I forgot to mention the Bantams - mine are sweet, docile, and talk a LOT! But the voice is tiny. He's very friendly towards me. At times, he (Banty) has acted like a best friend dog. Flying over to me, running to keep up with me, jumping on my lap to ask for food, and just being fun to be with. My fav is still the RIR.

Bantams - just means small. Might be the right size bird for your grandson, as an introduction.