Suggestions to keep predators away?

[StephMagee]

I don't really know what all predators we have that come into the yard. But just want to be safe. They seem to like the new set up. Before we got this, they would go in the dog kennel during the day and we would put them in a swimming pool and then at night they would come into the closet in the house. So they seem to enjoy being out all the time. They've been out for 3 nights(besides last night, we brought them in. Had a bad thunderstorm and they were freaking out so we brought them in, spoiled ducks!) but they peck around at everything and swim all day.

 

[Amykins]

I -hate- raccoons. One of them recently mauled my cat when he escaped outside overnight, he's still recuperating with several broken bones. I installed some motion-sensor flood lights, I've scared quite a few off that way, and I honest to god have taken to keeping a baseball bat and have had to swing at one or two who were too bold. We think the former owner of our home fed them, because they're quite keen on trying to get inside the house.

 

[studentjh55]

Make sure you have a roof and skirt on the pen made out of hardware cloth. Coons will climb and foxes will dig!

 

[jtn42248]

I -hate- raccoons. One of them recently mauled my cat when he escaped outside overnight, he's still recuperating with several broken bones. I installed some motion-sensor flood lights, I've scared quite a few off that way, and I honest to god have taken to keeping a baseball bat and have had to swing at one or two who were too bold. We think the former owner of our home fed them, because they're quite keen on trying to get inside the house.

Be careful swinging your bat at a raccoon. If they are intent they will continue to attack you and can be very dangerous. Just Google raccoon attacks on humans and take a look at the pictures. I bought a shotgun specifically to deal with the raccoon problem around me. That and coyotes, bobcats, skunks, etc. will meet their maker if they try to bother me or my family (flock and/or dogs).

 

[Amykins]

Admittedly it was more out of anger/vengeance for my poor kitty than anything else. ;; Stupicabra the marmalade kitty cat still has 5 weeks to go before the casts come off. I just, GRR, I hate those horrible little ringtailed beasts!

 

[jdduck]

I know this sounds crazy but human pee will help keep some predators away. Grandma used to make all the boys go out behind her coop when I was little for this reason. I can never recall anything getting to any of her birds but her chopping block. Also if u have brave coons a 22 will get them every time get the short rounds and the neighbors will never hear u shoot and if there trying to come in they need to go it will only get worse.

 

[jtn42248]

I know this sounds crazy but human pee will help keep some predators away. Grandma used to make all the boys go out behind her coop when I was little for this reason. I can never recall anything getting to any of her birds but her chopping block. Also if u have brave coons a 22 will get them every time get the short rounds and the neighbors will never hear u shoot and if there trying to come in they need to go it will only get worse.

We had one recently, dead weight was 65 pounds, we emptied a 10 shot clip of .22 into him and he was still intent on getting into the chicken coop. A single 12 guage shot put an end to him. The biggest problem with .22 is that you really have to aim. With a shotgun you pretty much just have to point.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Raccoons are rabies carriers. Be very careful in terms of human contact.

@jtn42248 so after 12ga, was there **anything** left????

Yuck

 

[Amykins]

I call shenanigans. The max a raccoon can get is around 20 pounds and even that's pushing it. I smell a "big fish" story. Unless you're talking about a coyote?

 

[jtn42248]

Nope. West Texas raccoon's must be bigger than the ones where you are at. The one before that was about 45 pounds. A 20 pound raccoon around here would just be a baby. The big one was about the same size as our German Short Haired Pointer...just fatter. And 6.5 pounds or 65 pounds it is not welcome here and will be dispatched. We give them a chance to run away first but they often times decide that we are bluffing and continue their behavior. And to answer HollyDuckFarmer...yes there was plenty of him left. His body filled a medium sized garden cart, was wheeled out to the road side and left for the buzzards. The County Sheriff said we should hang them from the fence as a warning but we don't want the place to look trashy.