sudden end to freedom ranger experiment

[schmism]

I know how you feel when our new flock of new 6 week old layers went from 14 to 5 in the matter of about 3 days due to an owl.

 

[Buster52]

Get a good dog.

Or four.

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
I agree, raccoon is tasty, but not as tasty as possum. Treerat is fine if done right.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

Quote:
I agree, raccoon is tasty, but not as tasty as possum. Treerat is fine if done right.

lol Yeah, delicious and infested with this: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/baylisascaris/factsht_baylisascaris.htm

 

[scubaforlife]

Thanks for the well-wishing/sorries/etc... We did a different cover for the brooder, more coon proof. Set traps, I live in the country and the price for this sort of thing is dire. I will get revenge. I might setup electric fence around my pen now that I have had an opossum visit (chased off) and this coon.

 

[beth59]

I've been a bit worried ever since I saw a coon at our neighbors back door last week. Then, to my surprise, I see the neighbor go out and put something out to eat for it! Then, early this evening, as I was mowing the front yard, who walks right across the yard ahead of me, but the neighbors new pet. Not sure how this is going to play out, but I've kept the baby (I mean "chicken") monitor on at night in case he tries anything funny (or not so funny).

Beth

 

[dancingbear]

Quote:
I agree, raccoon is tasty, but not as tasty as possum. Treerat is fine if done right.

lol Yeah, delicious and infested with this: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/baylisascaris/factsht_baylisascaris.htm

I cleaned the carcass carefully, soaked it in brine for a week, (in the fridge) and cooked it in the crock pot for almost 24 hours. I did not eat the intestines or the feces, so I think my risk of infection is pretty darn slim, more like non-existent. Most critters do carry things that you wouldn't want to ingest, in their intestines. That's why we generally don't eat them, aside from the obvious ick factor.

Intestines used for sausage casings are thoroughly cleaned, and if I remember correctly, the inner lining is peeled away as well. I haven't ever made sausage casings from intestines. If I ever do, even though I'd never eat sausage raw or undercooked, I'll be sure not to use raccoon intestines.

 

[Beekissed]

That is a horrible blow and the a loss on a big investment! Reading posts like this makes me want to go out and give my good dogs a bone. They have kept my chickens so safe over the years that I take it for granted.

I don't think all the traps and coop improvements in the world are as foolproof and valuable as a few good dogs.

 

[Bossroo]

Quote:
But only if they are 'Coon dogs.... they give a musical bellow and a chase, and soon the end is near with a good shot. All others, well...

 

[dancingbear]

It is a terrible blow to find your flock has been ravaged, by anything. I know what kind of stomach twisting experience it is, and I'm sorry you have had it happen to you. Live traps and dogs are both good, along with your fortifications.

I disagree that only a coon-dog is any use. I've known a lot of people who had or have good dogs that protect the chickens, livestock, etc., that are not coon dogs. A lot of them are just plain mutts. They need training in order not to be a problem, themselves, but that's true of just about any dog.

I have a funny-looking brown dog, not a coon-dog, basset hound and who-knows what. She's the one who treed the raccoon. She's the one who chased and caught a fox repeatedly one summer, until a neighbor finally shot it. We knew it was the same one because of the chewed up rear paw where Cleo kept catching him. She wasn't big enough to kill him but she kept him from getting even a single chicken dinner that summer. She's also evicted 'possums from the hen house, several times. She just goes in and gets them, carries them out, lays them on the ground, and watches them, to see if they're going to move or not.

I also have 2 lab mixes who chase off anything that doesn't belong, and a sheep dog who joins in with any of the other 3, just for fun.

I wish you the best of luck in resolving the problem. Maybe a few raccoons in the freezer will help make up for your losses.
BBQ 'coon sandwiches are good. Also good roasted, with potatoes and carrots, onions and garlic.