spotted a racoon should we worry?

[bosoxbratt]

Hi all
We have 15 hens and one rooster and last saturday we saw a racoon walking around our front yard and side yard..our girls are kept in our back yard ..my concern is do you think it is only a matter of time before the coon comes back to try to get them or do you think cause he didn't try he isn't interested?

We usually free range them but since we saw the racoon we have kept them in their outdoor pen and have given them lots of greens and things so they dont miss out to much I am just worried it may come back and get one or more?

We have 3 dogs which I am hoping may have scared it off but just want to make sure it is ok to let them back out to free range..it was fairly early in the day when he saw him around 11:00 am TY for ahny info

 

[chicks4kids]

Oh yes, he'll be back...he'll come at night when everyone is asleep

 

[herefordlovinglady]

coons are trouble -- period. but you seeing one in the daylight hours is worse -- most folks say that when they are out in the day then the chances of them being rabid are high.

trap them dispatch them -- it's the only way to protect your flock. there are numerous threads about coons and what some tricks are to keep them away, but like one person said on an earlier thread today -- the best way and only way to keep your flock safe is to get rid of them.

 

[Dead Rabbit]

be afraid, be very afraid

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I'd trap him and leave the chickens penned up until you get him.

But as for what you do after you trap him?

There may be a family of them.

 

[Liamm_1]

wow, 11am?! scary!
I'd be vigilant, and keep the gun ready (I keep a pellet gun by my back door, can't discharge firearms here). Are the dogs in the yard with the chickens? We used to have racoons through our yard every night around 1-2am (prior to keeping chickens). Haven't seen them in a while though, we have 3 dogs on one side and 4 dogs on the other (we have none yet). I'm guessing the racoons prefer to visit yards without so many dogs nearby.

 

[elmo]

Yes, I would worry. First of all, raccoons are mostly nocturnal, so I'd be concerned about why this one was out during daytime. Starving? Rabid?

If I were you, I'd double check coop security, and consider putting out a trap.

 

[Dead Rabbit]

Quote:
why, you do this to him...........

this one cost me a number of expensive fowl, but i finally got him

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
why, you do this to him...........

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff195/TroyDone/montanatrip006.jpg

this one cost me a number of expensive fowl, but i finally got him

What I meant was, whether or not to let the chickens back out in the yard afterward. There might be a family of raccoons, and more might come. Uh, I see it was you- 1, racoon - 0.

 

[bosoxbratt]

TY everyone
We have double checked and then rechecked the coop and the fenced in pen for them so far nothing has tried to get them no tracks that we can see ??

Our dogs are not out with the chickens at least not in the actual yard part with them when they are free ranging mainly cause one is a springer spaniel and she goes after anything that moves whether it is a leaf or a bug so we do not trust her at all to be out and about with them the other two probably would be ok with them but still dont trust them 100% as they are both dogs that love to play and they may play to rough and hurt them...when we do let them outside they go all around the fence yard barking and carrying on like they smell something or are warning whatever to stay away?

I know the racoon didn't not seem to be afraid of any noise from me as I was making all sorts of racket to get him to go away and he just looked at me and continued on his way?

I guess at this point and time we should not let them free range for a few more days and see what happens?