Racoon control

Do you have an electric fence energizer? Electricity works wonderfully, but it's like $50 for a box so if you don't already have one it's going to be more expensive than hardware cloth.

 

I'd wait until I can afford it, if I were you. When you get chickens, you need to make them as secure a home as possible, especially at night. Even if you plan to free range all day, you have to keep them safe at night. And even if you plan to free range, your predator load might make it difficult.

Have you tried Craig's list or LSN for used supplies? What about bartering? Junk yards?

I don't know what's less expensive: hardware cloth or 2x4 inch welded wire. But both would work. I have 3 dog kennels attached to each other consecutively, with that netting over the top. However, I have large noisy dogs and have been much luckier than my neighbors as a result. the problem with the dog kennels is that a raccoon can get his arm in there and grab a chicken, but my chickens sleep in the henhouse. Same for 2x4 inch welded wire. It kind of depends on your setup. I've never worked with hardware cloth, but IIRC it's smaller and more difficult for a raccoon to sqeeze his arm through. Just giving you ideas...

I don't know what you would do about them climbing up the 4x4s. They climb up everything. You just have to make sure that whereever they're climbing, they're not getting in a weak area that they can sqeeze though.

 

sounds like an electric fence would be your best bet,hardware cloth works great but its expensive,And if you have a large run it would be costly ,you can run the electric fence up and down the poles,and around your run,

 

Actually, try ebay for a fence box, if you dare.

I saw one of mine on there for $12 and I know it's a good one. I got mine free from my uncle who used to have cattle.

I get most of my fencing supplies (2x4 welded wire, T posts, gates, etc) from a salvage yard, but they never have hardware cloth. That is one thing I have to get from TSC. It's $13ish for a 2ft x 25ft roll, I think.

 

I bought 2 livetraps from Tractor Supply for $30...caught the little stinker in 3 nights
Haven't seen signs of another coon but I still set it every now and then just in case!

 

Quote:Well if you lock them in the coop at night, that's less area that you have to raccoon proof. Just an idea to cut down on the cost. You could always beef up the run over time as you get the money.

 

Electric fence charger can be had as cheap as 19.95. Another 20 for hardware your done.

 

2 strands of hot wire, the first 6" off the ground, the second one a bit higher. Old pieces of sheet metal tacked to the outsides of the wooden posts...racoons cannot climb it.

I also use sheet metal around the bottoms of the trees close to my pen and hen houses.