Relocating raccoons- questions

[citrusdreams]

Chickenfarmer has come here to ask for advise and help. So please treat her with a bit of dignity and respect and just answer her questions. No need to be so harsh and in her face about how horrible she is. She is here to learn.

Chickenfarmer, raccoons are a problem for most chicken owners. We have learned to keep our chickens well protected from predators by providing them with safe coops and runs. If raccoons are getting to all your chickens and your cockatiel, something tells me you lack quite a bit of protection for your chickens. You need to fix that problem first.

After that, when raccoons get past that barrier, they need to be removed, either by you directly, by someone who can help you, or by animal control.

It's been pointed out to you that it is illegal in your state to relocate them, so that's not an option for you. You'll need to either fortify their coop and pen and keep them there 24/7, or you will need to eliminate as many as you can by killing them.

Where I'm from a person would be well versed on how to use a gun. If you're one of those, and probably with adult supervision, you will probably need to trap and shoot them or have someone do it for you. You can also trap them and call animal control (if they service your area) and have them come and remove it.

I wouldn't worry about how young or old they are. Young raccoons will just grow to become problems for you, so get rid of them as well.

*edited to remove age. Please do not post ages, especially not your own on the internet.**

 

[MissJenny]

Raccoons ought not be having babies now... they can if they lost a litter earlier in the year, but raccoons tend to have babies from February through May. This gives them the spring and summer to mature, to grow and develop enough to manage on their own, if need be, throughout the fall and winter.

Like you, I would have a tough time killing a raccoon too... but maybe your energy would be best spent predator proofing your coop. Raccoons are really determined, so this won't be easy. Considering the heavy losses you've sustained I might be inclined to declare war on the raccoons, even against my usual nature. Your hens are counting on you to protect them.

Jenny

 

[Bizzybirdy]

How in the world could a racoon kill your cockatiel? was it left outside at night? How awful. I raise parrots and tell all my customers to never take their birds outside even in the day time. Only takes a moment for something to make short work of a small bird and a cage is no protection at all.

Please listen to the advice here and protect your chickens by keeping them in a predator proof enclosure and by killing the racoons. They will keep coming back until you have nothing left if you do not take care of this matter and getting ripped apart by one is not an easy way for a poor chicken to die.

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
I've read wildly varying accounts about this in this forum, so I looked it up. According to scientific studies...

For an adult female, 3 miles. That is about her average range for food hunting. For an adult male, minimum of 10 miles. That is his average range for female hunting. He likes access to as many females as possible.

As to legalities, I leave that to the lawyers on this site.

 

[1acrefarm]

The best place to relocate a raccoon is to a grave. Think of all the damage and headache they are causing you. Would you want someone making their nuisance coons trap savvy then turning them lose by your place? I know I don't want any trap savvy nuisance coons turned lose here and most others don't want them turned lose in their area. I am sorry for your losses but please do the right thing if you catch those coons by dispatching them.

 

[deerman]

Quote:
Have to remember some people live where they can keep parrots and cockatiels outside year round.

Yes DONT relocated raccoons. Best to get rid of them, they will get in just about any pen, or reach thru and eat parts of birds.

 

[ChickenCharmer]

I know, I know. Seriously guys, if it was up to me, those raccoons would be long dead. But it's not up to me. My dad doesn't believe in killing animals, he would rather dump them into someone else's hands, as long as they don't bother him.

I, for one, think the whole going-out-of-your-way-to-rehome-a-stupid-vicious-rabid-animal-that-just-slaughtered-my-beloved-chickens-because-you'd-rather-not-kill-it idea is simply ridiculous.

 

[Brindlebtch]

Raccoons are territorial animals and will make a real effort to get back to their territory. I would say take them away at least 25 miles and hope they don't show back up. The boars might anyway.

Relocated raccoons will generally be hounded to death by the local raccoons and they also will not know the location of the local food resources and stand a good chance of starving if they survive the hounding. So while it may not seem right to you, you will probably be doing the raccoon a favor by putting it down instead of relocating it.

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
Yeah, I looked that up, too. Couldn't find this anywhere. Only place I have read it is here.

 

[citrusdreams]

Quote:
'
Why not call animal control in the morning and ask them if they'll remove the trapped raccoons for you? That way you stay out of the killing part of it.

In the meantime, please fortify your coop and pen and keep them confined until this predator situation is well under control. You might be able to get away with free ranging them an hour or two before dusk, supervised only of course.

Would your dad be opposed to getting a livestock guardian like a great pyranese or anatolian? They'll keep the predators away and watch over your chickens