- Oct 1, 2008
- 48
- 2
- 32
I live in a neighborhood but our house is backed up to the woods with a privacy fence. Have seen many Raccoons over several years, but not since keeping my dad's big dog for the summer last year. Last August, I added 2 hens to our family.... got them all decked out in a wood playhouse, all wired up.... they free range most all the time.
So this summer, I have been lazy or not too conscious about locking them up at night..... I locked them up last night for the first time all summer... thought they better get used to it before winter.
I always sleep very good, but last night I woke up and decided to get up and piddle around. I was up about an hour and decided to let the dog (itty moppy dog) out to go potty. 430am, Walking through the sunroom I heard "something" making a bunch of climbing noise! I look out at the coop and I thought there was a cat on the roof... then the cat had a buddy!
About that time, they got in view of the flood lights and I saw their eyes light up! COONS!! 2 very small youngins! I watched them for about 3 mins.... climbing around. They knocked off a roof decoration and one fell off unto the ground... then reached over and put his hand on the coop door and tried pulling it open at the bottom! I have an eye hook about 2/3 up....... then his arm went inside for more leverage!!!
I jumped out the door and screamed at them! They weren't scared.... they walked up the fence and sat there.... I called the hubby and he went out and could of picked them up, if he had shoes on! They walked up a very high tree right above us! They sat there... watching us, like we were the wild animals! They sat there up in that tree for an hour.... I decided to sleep the rest of the night on the couch with the back door open so I could hear if the girls needed me.
What a wake up call!
So I ventured to Lowe's for another latch for the bottom of the door with a safety on it..... hopefully coon proof!
So my question is.... anything I can do to keep them and others out of the yard?!?! These were very small.... I've seen huge ones in the past!
I heard someone talking "baby monitors?" that's a new one on me! How do you use them with chickens? Leave it on all the time and turn yours on in the bedroom each night? I don't have electric out there....
I picked up an ugly owl at Lowe's... but I have a feeling they will laugh at that thing.
Anything to detour them??? Besides me sleeping in a chair with a BB gun?
Thanks, Heather
So this summer, I have been lazy or not too conscious about locking them up at night..... I locked them up last night for the first time all summer... thought they better get used to it before winter.
I always sleep very good, but last night I woke up and decided to get up and piddle around. I was up about an hour and decided to let the dog (itty moppy dog) out to go potty. 430am, Walking through the sunroom I heard "something" making a bunch of climbing noise! I look out at the coop and I thought there was a cat on the roof... then the cat had a buddy!
About that time, they got in view of the flood lights and I saw their eyes light up! COONS!! 2 very small youngins! I watched them for about 3 mins.... climbing around. They knocked off a roof decoration and one fell off unto the ground... then reached over and put his hand on the coop door and tried pulling it open at the bottom! I have an eye hook about 2/3 up....... then his arm went inside for more leverage!!!
I jumped out the door and screamed at them! They weren't scared.... they walked up the fence and sat there.... I called the hubby and he went out and could of picked them up, if he had shoes on! They walked up a very high tree right above us! They sat there... watching us, like we were the wild animals! They sat there up in that tree for an hour.... I decided to sleep the rest of the night on the couch with the back door open so I could hear if the girls needed me.
What a wake up call!
So I ventured to Lowe's for another latch for the bottom of the door with a safety on it..... hopefully coon proof!
So my question is.... anything I can do to keep them and others out of the yard?!?! These were very small.... I've seen huge ones in the past!
I heard someone talking "baby monitors?" that's a new one on me! How do you use them with chickens? Leave it on all the time and turn yours on in the bedroom each night? I don't have electric out there....
I picked up an ugly owl at Lowe's... but I have a feeling they will laugh at that thing.
Anything to detour them??? Besides me sleeping in a chair with a BB gun?
Thanks, Heather