Racoon

[member 142084]

I know the threats of Racoons to chicken. My question is can they kill a duck by reaching their hand throough the wire to grad the just like they do chickens? I know ducks have tougher necks. I hope someone can inform me before I decide to leave my ducks out in the pen and not lock them up in the barn. Its completley enclosed with small chicken wire and an outer layer of horse fence.

 

[1muttsfan]

They pull the bird up to the fence (they are VERY strong) and gnaw off their head. So yes ducks can also be killed that way.

 

[member 142084]

That's what I was wondering- but I don't know how they'de get their nose thu to chew anything we have 1 inch chicken wire.

 

[Gargoyle]

That's what I was wondering- but I don't know how they'de get their nose thu to chew anything we have 1 inch chicken wire.

1. one inch is enough to get their paws through and grab someone.
2. chicken wire keeps chickens (and ducks) in, but it does not keep raccoons out. They can stretch it, pull it off its staples, and probably gnaw through the strands and break it open.

 

[member 142084]

ok I thought they could stretch it- but the horse fence they can't penetrate which is 2inx4in weave. They all go in the barn at night- but the ducks sometime like to wander aroud at night if I'm late getting out there. They never sleep near the fence line. Do cons dig under successfully? I have wire run in 24 in from the bottom.

 

[bigoledude]

Raccoons will surround the enclosure trying to chase as many birds as they can, into a corner or, against the wire, where another coon can reach in and grab it. If they get their paws on a duck, the duck is dead! Raccoons are very strong.

A friend of mine once owned a chimpanzee. He explained that when that chimp reached maturity, he would have the strength to dismember a human body with ease. Of course, a raccoon is not nearly that strong. But, they are much stronger than they may appear. I've seen the aftermath of raccoons tearing through chicken wire. It looked like the chicken wire didn't even slow them down.

They are not the best diggers in the world. But I'd have a skirt around my pens to discourage the most determined ones.

Pens, coops and fences must be really strong to keep coons out. But it does not take a large weapon to stop them. A .22 rim-fire or #4 turkey load works very well in killing them.

 

[member 142084]

shoot they run from a pellet gun Ok I will keep the locked up. I am going to build a rooster pen. I was thinking of making the entire thing out of hardware cloth. That should keep the bugars out. I only have one coon that comes around once a year during planting season. He doesn't eat eggs or even go near a trap. His rear paw print is 4 inches long.

 

[Gargoyle]

You may only see evidence of one, but he probably has a family; they regularly work in teams. BTW, he'll just laugh at a pellet gun.

 

[member 142084]

me may laugh but he sure takes off like lighning. Besides my pellet gun shoot through thin plywood. I ususally don't have time to pull anything bigger out befor it takes off. I haven't seen him around this year though. I think someone got it. The others if there are any have eluded my vision. I also have a bobcat.

 

[Ted n Ms]

Not only can they dig. A coon can climb over a fence with ease.

You are under arrest.