The scariest halloween ever, my flock is dead or dying....

[One Chick Two]

I'm so sorry for your loss.
The whole idea of any coop is to protect our birds from predators and the elements. So, this is a monumental design fail. I found Mr. Sullivan's letter concise and respectful. I think the company who made the coops should act responsibly, and fairly compensate those affected by loss due to their design defect- (cost of the lost birds, perhaps). I hope your remaining birds make a full and healthy recovery.

 

[Pathfinders]

I am so very sorry this happened to you. How terrible that a design flaw in the coop resulted in the deaths of your hens!

Would it be possible, if you're going to keep using the coop, to cover the open areas with hardware cloth? That's the only think I know of that will prevent a raccoon reaching in and pulling birds out piece by piece.

We have had many raccoon problems over the years. We have permission from the State to shoot them, so we trap and then shoot any we catch.

One year my husband caught and killed 30 raccoons in 30 days. It got so the buzzards would wait in the tree in the south pasture every morning for their "breakfast." We call it the Buzzard's Cafe.

Some years are worse than others. Some times of year are worse than others. Spring and fall are, for us, the worst, as it's when young need to be fed, and when the weather changes and their natural prey starts to hibernate.

Again, so sorry to hear this. Get a trap. Get permission from your State Wildlife branch. Then trap and shoot (or drown, if you don't have a gun.)

 

[Coop Deville]

A raccoon decimated my flock a few months ago. It killed my favorite Wellie by reaching into a 1" gap in the top of the coop and pulling what he could of her through it.

Happy hunting.

 

[Rhilien]

Oh no :-(



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[ladycat]

I had to spend a fortune to make all my pens raccoon proof. They can reach through some tiny spaces to kill chickens. They killed dozens of chickens until I reinforced everything with 1/2" hardware cloth.

 

[Pathfinders]

I had to spend a fortune to make all my pens raccoon proof. They can reach through some tiny spaces to kill chickens. They killed dozens of chickens until I reinforced everything with 1/2" hardware cloth.

IMO, hardware cloth is the very best for protecting chickens, I use no other (although we prefer the 1/4" over the 1/2".)

 

[Shellz]

Sorry for everyone's losses here. I believe I had my first coon attack last night in over 4 years. I'm mad as heck & not apologizing for it. Lost 2 -13 week old cockerels. One was a promising future breeding cockerel. I will be waiting with a live trap set up near kill site & my .22. I'm sure it'll be back to get the carcass I couldn't reach. Night hunting coons with rim fire rifles was just made legal here too.

Good luck getting those varmint folks!

 

[zazouse]

For that much money you can buy 10 nice live traps of your very own

I agree plus there are always other critters that will come along and take their place so might as well be ready with traps or another 550 a week.

Sorry for your loss

 

[Mattemma]

Sorry for your loss.Traps 24/7.I bought one for $46 and have probably caught 46 critters.A cheap investment.

 

[Shellz]

If you get one of those Havahart live traps, I strongly suggest modifying it. I've had a coon escape one by chewing the bottom row of bars off. Just put together some pieces of wood to form a box around the back of it. Add a big bucket on top & fill with water. Just make sure the box doesn't impede the tripping mechanism on the side. Always test the trap. I've trapped 5 coons since doing this.