Racoon/Bear problem!!

[AshleyD87]

Its been a rough week here!! Raccoons and a bear have reduced our flock by half...in a week!! First a racoon got our rooster, which I wasn't too upset about because he was mean to the hens. The next day the same racoon got 3 of our hens. The following day, in broad day light a bear (about a year old) got another hen and dragged her into the woods. Since then we've had to start sitting outside at night, around dusk, to make sure the last 5 make it in the coop safely.

I've since caught that darn racoon on camera trying to break into the coop. Last night he was ripping siding off the coop, crawling all over the roof and scratching at the backdoor. I went outside and made noise and it didn't seem to bother him. He eventually left when he realized he wasn't getting in.

How do you guys deal with predators? I think at this rate my girls wont survive the summer...they're dropping like flies!!

 

[imnukensc]

Duke's dog proof coon trap and a .22 bullet to the head for coons.

 

[Trish1974]

How do you guys deal with predators?

It all depends where you live and what you are willing to do. Personally, I shoot anything that threatens my chickens (mainly fox) but also shoot raccoons on sight because our area is having a problem with distemper in coons due to an increase in population. No one is hunting them anymore. Of course the only sure way of protecting your flock is a secure covered run with electric fence. Since you free range, I'm not sure there is much you can do, unless you can put up an electric fence around the area where you free range. Here's a good how-to: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/a-treatise-on-electric-fences-for-poultry.72229/

Edited: Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest shooting the bear! I'm sure there are rules and regulations on that, but I do not have bears where I live (thank god!) so that wasn't on my mind when I mentioned shooting!

 

[mountain chicken]

I'll shoot the occasional one but its not as effective as the high voltage fence

I built both my run and coop to be both bear and mt lion proof
and I know nothing else will get in either
the coop and run are double lined with welded chick wire
during the day I rigged a laser trigger that sets off a high pitch siren at night I go to my boosted electric fence , I've already found fried hair on it . so yes it works great now all I need is bbq sauce once he toasts him self.

 

[mountain chicken]

I'll shoot the occasional one but its not as effective as the high voltage fence

I built both my run and coop to be both bear and mt lion proof
and I know nothing else will get in either
the coop and run are double lined with welded chick wire
during the day I rigged a laser trigger that sets off a high pitch siren during the day it will scare everything off even me as sometimes I just forget it's on , at night I go to my boosted electric fence , I've already found fried hair on it . so yes it works great now all I need is bbq sauce once he toasts him self.

 

[Howard E]

Fried hair?????????

I hope that was an exaggeration. No electric fence should do that.

 

[mountain chicken]

going through some surveillance tapes of my property today
caught this guy on video surveillance last night looks to be around 350 to 400 lbs easy big boy
glad I built my coop as well as I did at least I know there safe at night

looks like I should keep a shot gun close by just in-case he try's to sneak up
on me , I've been cutting down dead trees deep in the woods as that would be a surprise
I don't plan on giving him a chicken dinner

I have dept of wildlife coming with a bear trap/cage , they told me to shoot him if he gets to close they think this bear is the one that breaks into cabins tearing them apart and should be considered dangerous

looks like I need to build more bear mats 2x8 sheets plywood with a 2 inch grid of 1 inch nails all over this will stop him in his tracks and turn around

 

[aligarysmom]

Hmm I wouldn’t have thought of that.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The heck with a plain old chicken dinner! Worry about a Mountain Chicken bear feast?

 

[Trish1974]

going through some surveillance tapes of my property today
caught this guy on video surveillance last night looks to be around 350 to 400 lbs easy big boy
glad I built my coop as well as I did at least I know there safe at night

View attachment 1420879 View attachment 1420880

looks like I should keep a shot gun close by just in-case he try's to sneak up
on me , I've been cutting down dead trees deep in the woods as that would be a surprise
I don't plan on giving him a chicken dinner

I have dept of wildlife coming with a bear trap/cage , they told me to shoot him if he gets to close they think this bear is the one that breaks into cabins tearing them apart and should be considered dangerous

looks like I need to build more bear mats 2x8 sheets plywood with a 2 inch grid of 1 inch nails all over this will stop him in his tracks and turn around