UPDATE...w/pics "Slaughter by a masked marauder...I think?" I Know!

[sfw2]

Just went through a similar experience, except my losses occurred over the space of a week, before I figured out what it was and where it was getting in. Finally caught the raccoon in the act, and dispatched it. I'm generally a soft-hearted person, and I don't enjoy killing predators, but, if it has to be done, I try to take care of it as quickly as possible.

for taking care of business, and

to you and your daughter. I know how heartbreaking it can be.

 

[christineavatar]

I have had problems with the raccoons as well. I found this http://www.niteguard.com/pages/Order/ . It works after it gets dark and they are solar powered. I heard of one member on BYC say that she had come home around sunset and a raccoon ran right passed the light to get to her chickens. So I think the secret is AFTER dark. I have used it since Spring. I had some vines grow up and over one that I had on the South side of the coop and wound up with one of my chickens having her leg so badly damaged that she had to be put down. But, I've cleared off the vines and repositioned the light and have not had a repeat of the invasion.

 

[bannerdb]

So sorry for your loss.

 

[9Catsz]

I completely raccoon-proofed my coop and the raccoons started coming about a half an hour before dark before the ladies went into their coop. 'Coons are too smart for their own good, but they were easy pickins in the daylight.

 

[sourland]

I have no problems with killing predators that are going after my birds. I do no enjoy the killing but regard it as a responsibility. My one major frustration is that I can do nothing against the hawks that kill my pigeons. The only solution to that is to not fly birds 8 or 9 months out of the year. Delcochicks, you did the responsible thing.

 

[DelcoChix]

SO sory to hear of the loss of your babies--sounds like a similar situation except ours was able to push the door open (our fault), and then lift the door into the coop, which didn't slide easily....so the 'coons everywhere are obviously able to adapt to whichever situation they find themselves in in order to get what they want. I knew the chicken wire by itself wouldn't stop anything, except a chicken, but I did think (and still do) it helps as a 2nd layer of protection over the chainlink....just didn't figure on them opening the door to the kennel and then lifting the guillotine door too...never would have thought they'd go that far...
I guess, short of hardware cloth covering everything (out of my budget right now), electric fencing around the kennel is a good start, along with a strong coop with a door latch...
Best of luck in your protection success.




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[DelcoChix]

Thanks for your support--I know it was necessary, and the 'right' thing--just frustrates me that it had to be done. I'm the one who will pull my camera out at every opportunity to snap a pic of a fox and her kits 2 miles down the road from me, and also of a beautiful Barred Owl that had been injured, sitting on the side of the road a mile from my house (before we drove for 20 minutes to take it to a wildlife rehab center)...that's just how I am Sorry that you have such a problem with your pigeons and the hawks--how frustrating, especially when in the wide open sky it's going to be sort of tough to run interference for your birds. Battery pack for mini hotwire fence on the pigeons as they flew probably not too practical, and too heavy I'd guess Just a thought (sorry it's late and it's been a heckuva week here)...

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[DelcoChix]

How incredibly frustrating...I'm in big trouble if the Ohio 'coons catch on to that idea...we really will have to see about some hotwire I guess...and yet I have to admit a tiny bit of admiration for their adaptive abilities, and intelligence...dang it.

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[Mattemma]

Sorry for the loss.How hard that must have been for your dd. Keep the trap set.I caught nothing for over 2 weeks,and just got 2 more coons.Never knew we had so many coons(7 caught so far) and possums(about 6 caught). I was trapping groundhogs(4 caught) and happen to catch the others.Not waiting for my girls to get killed from those predators.Bad enough I have to tolerate the hawks.

Hope your dd will get some chicks come spring!

 

[scottfarm]

hi would keep that trap set for a while . bet he has friends that know where your chickens are just waiting to have chicken for dinner. i have caught as many as 15 in one spot before i stop catching them. good luck