Something is knawing at the wood of our chicken coop to get at our chickens!

[chilman]

there is a critter that is trying to get into our chicken coop to get our babies. we aren't sure what it is, suspecting a coon...but not sure. We did trap a possum the other day and he has been relocated. The coop is on heavy wooden legs and the actual chicken house is about 3 feet off the ground. It is made of heavy wood, has a shingled roof and plexi-glass windows that are surrounded with wood trim. The past several nights, something has been trying to get into the coop to get our babies. the door has been gnawed on and the window trim has big chunks removed from it. The critter even ate thru the electric cord of their heat lamp (to bad it was not being used). We have used coon repellent and just today sprayed the coop area with cayenne pepper spray. But this critter isn't done....he keeps coming back and doing more damage. Today we did find some fur that the critter left behind. its kind of medium length, wirey looking, dark with some brown and gray, almost tri-colored. any ideas? we need help!

 

[rancher hicks]

It is possible that it is still a coon. Those repellents don't away's work. It could also be a squirrel.

No matter what it is you need to find a way to get rid of it.

I personally do not like traps as they're baited to attract. Relocating has to be miles and miles away to work. This I was told by the science teacher at my kids school.

I suggest you try a rat trap baited with peanut butter. It could be a rat.

Do you have pics of your coop?

If you have electricity on the coop you might consider a light outside and a radio set to an all talk station.

At the risk of sounding crude. If there is a man in the house have him go out after dark and "mark" some places near the coop. Wooden things like trees and stumps and such. Even on the posts of the coop. I have been doing this since my first and only coon attack and have not been bothered since. That's my only proof that it works.

 

[chilman]

Thanks...I am still leaning towards a coon. the fur that I found in my opinion is to long for a rat, but a possibility for a squirrel. we do have squirrels that hang around the coop, and will actually go hang out with the chickens and eat...even if they are in the coop. The damage is taking place while we are sleeping. do you know if motion sensored lights work? I will have the mr. go do his business out there tonight! thanks for your help!

 

[egg layers]

If you have a night vision camera put it on it and see

 

[rancher hicks]

Thanks...I am still leaning towards a coon. the fur that I found in my opinion is to long for a rat, but a possibility for a squirrel. we do have squirrels that hang around the coop, and will actually go hang out with the chickens and eat...even if they are in the coop. The damage is taking place while we are sleeping. do you know if motion sensored lights work? I will have the mr. go do his business out there tonight! thanks for your help!

Squirrels will definitely chew to get in where they know there is food. Letting squirrels hang out with your chickens is unwise. They and there feces carry all kinds of diseases, mites and fleas.

Setting a few rat traps nailed to a heavy board is worth the trouble and expense.

I had squirrels going into one of my coops stealing eggs. The chickens would not go in to lay but moved to another coop. I nailed a trap to the tree nearest the coop and caught three young ones.