So many bad things are going through my mind i need help now!!!!!

[dainerra]

Quote:
sorry to burst a bubble, but that's not true. Once raccoons realize that food (chicken) is there, it's game on. Why should they waste time and energy with hunting when there is a fully-stocked chicken buffet that takes zero effort? And neither coons nor possums will pass up fresh live chicken to just eat eggs.

For coons, the most common time for problems is when the babies are weaning - summer into fall. It's much easier for mama to take the whole litter into the chicken coop and let them have their way.

 

[leadwolf1]

Quote:
sorry to burst a bubble, but that's not true. Once raccoons realize that food (chicken) is there, it's game on. Why should they waste time and energy with hunting when there is a fully-stocked chicken buffet that takes zero effort? And neither coons nor possums will pass up fresh live chicken to just eat eggs.

For coons, the most common time for problems is when the babies are weaning - summer into fall. It's much easier for mama to take the whole litter into the chicken coop and let them have their way.

For your own sake, OP, please read the many experiences our fellow byc'ers post everyday on their plight with predators. Predators take the easiest way to get food for themselves and for their families...

 

[Amethyste]

Yup so true....

I learned the hard way that coons etc WILL come visiting and WILL decimate a flock even when there is plenty of food around. We hadn't seen any sign of them, we knew they were around, but we figured the birds would be safe. Wrong. MIDDLE OF THE DAY we had a coon attack. Then they came back just after dark and tried again. Then a few days later they tried again at dusk. Just because you cannot see them doesn't mean they are there.

They are PREDATORS and will kill your birds if they can. And as the person before me said, they are going to look for the easiest way to get food. And really, with a chicken dinner buffet right there in front of them, with birds that really don't fight much at night....winner winner chicken dinner!! Ring the bells its suppertime!!

And honestly...yes they will go after eggs too. But they really want the chickens. Eggs in my experience tend to be an afterthought unless you have an eggeating snake etc.