Should I wait for the raccoons?

[Boyd]

Quote:
I agree... but what happens after dark? Who knows? I told a friend who's never had a predator problem to set a trap next to their coop's outer wall for laughs and giggles. She caught something..... If I had to guess (and it is only a guess) she had a predator problem, no deaths at that point but when? Looked like the masked bandits were already scoping out her mcnuggets.

I agree with some of the above posts. Build fort knox, improve on it if you find or are shown any weaknesses with it. I know a lot of people that use electric fencing on top of all of that

 

[Whirlwind]

I agree build Fort Knox, make sure you have latches close to the bottoms of your doors. I had one squeese in at the bottom while latched at the top. Those coons are persistant. Almost every night they try to get in my coop. I think I could put a trap out and catch something in it every night for ever. You can never get them all.

 

[kikescove.com]

I guess I have a different approach because I have approx 30 pens with coops and buildings and quite frankly there is no way to %100 protect your flock. Even with very sensible measures there is always a gap somewhere that a predator will exploit. If you have a chance to save your birds, then I would do it. I would call that being responsible.

 

[Uzuri]

Quote:
I dunno, the coon I caught and was obligated to shoot was dumb enough to walk into an empty trap. No attractants involved there

 

[SurprisingWoman]

I only have five pullets and they are my pets. I am being VERY proactive in taking out predators. I think my coop is SECURE. What if I am delayed and don't get home until after dark and the pop door is left open? What if there's a daytime raccoon?

I have three cats, that are only allowed out in their screened cattery unless we are outside and they go out with leashes and harnesses and "freerange" the yard.

I have one very obese blue heeler that is outside a few hours every day.

Do I want a coon coming into my yard with its worms, diseases and rabies? NO

Last night my hummingbird feeder was lowered by five inches, that means that some raccoon is getting itself a sweet treat, again.

Tonight I will be baiting my trap again. This time the sardines will include some pretty blue "granola" crunchies.

It's us or them. IMHO

 

[CMV]

Quote:

Well that was just dumb luck!!

 

[ivan3]

There is a very simple axiom that has stood the test of time here (pred heavy). Build Ft. Chook AND maintain an active defense: Preemptive removal of vermin will not keep more from arriving but will decrease the overall frequency of predation. This is particularly true in an area where even supervised free range time requires keeping a rifle handy.

But, then, if I had a dollar for every instance of Surprise & Sorrow I've read in this subject line I'd be able to buy all the coons, opossums, skunks, fox and coyotes, off...

Set the trap(s) and keep them set: Only way to be sure.