Racoon Attack - Time to give away remaining chickens

[SixToeJoe]

Back story.
I bought a house in South Jersey, and "inherited" 8 chickens, 2 roosters and 6 hens.
Acquired a 7th hen,when a neighbor found one somehow.

One night about a month ago someone, I have my suspicions, came into my backyard and opened my gate and also the latch on my coop. A racoon got in and killed two hens,though I have only found feathers,no carcasses ... but did come face to face with a racoon when I responded to the 1 A.M. screeching.

Now when i come home from work I occasionally find my gate is open again ...

I am done with these chickens and neighbors who are obviously cowardly,but do not like the roosters crowing for hours on end all day every day,starting at about 3 A.M.

Any ides how to give chickens away in Southern new Jersey ??

 

[N F C]

Just wondering out loud here...since you have seen a raccoon at your place, is it possible that the raccoon was able to open the coop? They are pretty resourceful and have those very manipulative little hands. Of course, I'm not familiar with what type of latch and/or lock you are using.

As for getting rid of your birds, there's always Craigs List. And I believe once you have 20 posts, you can post on the buy-sell-trade part of BYC:https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/67/buy-sell-trade

Or you could find your home state thread and post there. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/537/new-jersey

 

[Percheron chick]

Or put a lock on the coop. If the roosters are the problem and causing ill will with the neighbors, give them away. Don't give up on the hens if that's what you really want.

Raccoon are crafty little boogers and can open doors even secured with clips,

 

[kyexotics]

This 20+lb Racoon moved a tire on a rim, 30-40lbs, couldn't get in coop(1/2" plywood) and went for meat left in trap!



We believe this is same varmint that tore thru one of my last remaining weakpoints and snatched 2 ducks the previous nights...He's now resting in pieces...