Racoon strikes for the last time!

[Chris1327]

So I have had this pesky racoon that has killed my favorite Buff Orpington Pullet Ms. Thang and my Peking duckling (poor duck was ripped out of the house from the gable and Ms. Thang lost her head!) and tonight he struck again while I was on the computer. I heard one of my 3 mo old Roos go crazy and ran outside to find a racoon in the chicken coop. I have it covered, but he sneaked in under it.

The guys ran out of their small house and he ran in, so we locked it up. While I was gathering up the guys, I heard another noise and when I thought I was finished there was another racoon pacing by the woods! I thought catching the one in the coop would solve my problems, but now I have another to deal with.

The boys are fine and I moved them into a caged hutch. No one was killed, just some feathers scattered around. I was just glad I ran out there in time. I don't like to keep them caged up even though the cages are roomy, but after this its better this way and safer. I'll dispose of the racoon in the morning.

I love raising chickens, but I never realised how persistant and savage racoons could be. I live next to a busy street and even though there are woods in the back (protected wetlands), I thought that would scare them away, but it doesn't. Even us city folk have these problems too.

 

[silkiechicken]

I would have to say city fold have it the worst because of garbage cans and what not, city coons can live in much higher density... I got 6 and dispatched them... all in one month... haven't had a problem of digging since.

 

[lindamass15]

sorry to all you racoon lovers out there, but i hope you kill it. by just letting it go morelikly it will return and its a choas prone to happen again

and if you just relocate it then your just going to be dumping your problem to someone elses.

 

[Scrambled Egg]

After having a possum living in my neighborhood, I would imagine a raccoon is a possibility too. I hate killing anything but a spider so I have no idea what I would do about a raccoon, unless of course it killed one of my chickens and then I guess I would give it a death sentence...so my husband could kill it...because I still could not do it but the rabies threat is so high with them until it is dangerous to let them live around populated areas. I am really glad that one did not get your chickens...and please use gloves to handle it and throw the gloves away when you are finished....so you aren't exposed to any rabies....might want to check google on whether burying a rabid animal is dangerous to things that grow in the spot or how long afterward if its dug up will the rabies still be transmittable. Good luck

 

[SpottedCrow]

That the only wild predator I've had kill one of my babies.
I have wetlands nearby also.
We have coyotes, hawks, skunks, foxes, raccoons, oppossums all in my neighbourhood...You just have to know how they get in and fix it...
Sorry for your losses.

 

[akcskye]

You say the Roos are in a hutch?

Not like a rabbit hutch that's elevated with a wire bottom, right?

I have seen dogs and coons rip the wire apart to get to their meal.

Just something FYI for you so you don't have another morning wake up to what you already have.

(((HUGS)))

 

[Chris1327]

It seems that racoons are crafty. He escaped by clawing the door open and ran for his life! Though I wash he didn't get away, hopefully he won't be back for quite some time. I think I need to get a trap next for these killers.

The hutch I am using was built to be predator proof. It's made of steel 1/4" squares, and I have the bottom surrounded by cinderblocks. The bottom is one long piece and reinforced with additional 2*4's so I gon't think they will have much luck on that. It was built by a former dinner theater in Orlando where I used to work and they kept the chickens in there with no problems.

I will keep you all updated if I catch him again.