WAY too many predators!

[aprophet]

Quote:
here are some of the regs that govern this very thing.

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resource...gulations/2008-2010_Furbearer_Regulations.pdf

 

[Jeremy Parker]

I've been a trapper for years and stake the trap! I personally would not use a box trap

If you use the box trap put a sardine on it they like these the best.

I used to put sardines on the conabear traps and never had issues with anything getting away or past me

Racoon hides sell for about $30 maybe help to replace your loss!

Good luck and sorry for your loss!

Blessings,
Jeremy

 

[Ema]

I don't live in the US but up where I am from we have a lot of predators, eagles, bears, foxes, wolves, hawks, mountain lions, bobcats and lynx, those to just name a few. I racked my brain for several months on what to do with the coop because of all the predators I was afraid I would lose my flock rather quickly like a lady I know down the street. So I took a section of the barn and enclosed the inside and made a door so I could access the insdie of the coop. I then made a door leading outside for the chickens and fenced in a very large area between the dog and horse pen. So I got my horses and the dogs protecting my flock at all times. However I know you may not have horses or dogs and it may not be practical for you to move your coop. So Without even having the protection of the other animals I made sure that the area in which the chickens are in is sturdy enough that nothing will get through. except unless a bear really wants in, nothing will really stop him or her. I used chainlink all the way around the pen. I buried about 2 feet of tin into the ground to discourage foxes and other predators who will try to dig down. For the top I made a sturdy wood frame and fenced in with equine fencing ( I used this for the bogger predators who will go through the top not the bottom) and then added a layer of chicken wire to stop predatory birds and smaller predators from getting in. oh I should mention I also added bear bells in several sections of the fencing so if an animals touches it the bells go off and scares them away. Something else you might consider it a motion detection light in the pen. I've never seen a raccoon where I am at. but I know they are great climbers and very smart. If you have several raccoons already chances are after you get rid of the ones you already know are there, more will follow eventually. your best bet is to fool proof your pen and bring them inside the coop at night to avoid further loss. I am sorry about your loss and I hope you find a quick solution.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
they are not very smart they are as easy to catch as a fox again fox are not smart either when you catch the first one do not stop trapping for 1-3 weeks most landowners I work for do not see them again for 5-6 months this give them a bit of time to reinforce the coop the run etc the last day of trapping season here in Va. is feb 28 most of the farms I work for do not see preds again until oct - dec

 

[whillo]

Thanks for that link aprophet!

 

[Yessur Ebob]

If you don't mind me asking Yessur EBob, what kind of fencing do you have around your coop? Were they able to dig under or reach through the wires? Were the girls out in the pen or did they get into the coop?

I ask because I just lost a two day old silkie today and fell to pieces. I don't know if I could bear to lose another if I can manage to get them grown up enough to even get them to the coop! (I'm feeling pretty nervous about all this now.) We're making coop plans and know there are critters around so don't want to give them a free lunch. Any tips you can share? I don't think we're allowed to kill the wildlife where we live.

Whillo, We were just using chicken wire, and whatever got them probably just pushed under the fence. Usually we put them away at night, but that night we got busy and forgot about them.

Last night we had something chew the tips off of one of our chicks toes. The chicks are on hardware cloth and something reached through and bit his poor little toes off. I think the chick will be fine, but we are keeping the bottom covered now.

I've been a trapper for years and stake the trap! I personally would not use a box trap big_smile

If you use the box trap put a sardine on it they like these the best.

I used to put sardines on the conabear traps and never had issues with anything getting away or past me cool

Racoon hides sell for about $30 maybe help to replace your loss!

Good luck and sorry for your loss!

Blessings,
Jeremy

Jeremy, I wish we could use leg-holding traps, but we would just catch all my sisters' cats. We are going to run leg-holding traps a ways from the house though.


Thanks for all the advice guys I really appreciate it.​

 

[Xodrana]

Jeremy , how would you prepare a racoon hide to sell? Where would one find a buyer? I live in the city ( Portland oregon) but I have had racoons in my yard to eat my cat food. Some of them are HUGE and scary. I will be getting my chickens as soon as my Fort Knox coop is done. I will be trapping and dispatching them as humanely as possible.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
pelts are not worth very much at this time they need to be" prime" for fur buyers to be interested pelts will start to prime as the days shorten they become fully prime sometime near october-march. I can pm you a website that will help a lot if you wish.

 

[Katy]

I get rid of nuisance predators too, but the issue is more will just come to take their place.

It would be much better if you build a more secure run and coop area for them.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
when done properly, this does not happen a lot of folks stop trapping after the first animal is caught I caught 2 raccoons for one lady she asked me if I thought there were more I told her yes mam there were more I asked her to let me trap until I caught them all I caught 13 coon after I got rid of them she did not call me back until 8 months later telling me she had coon return but in the mean time she had reenforced her coop and run and they were not able to get in this time but she still had me come out and get rid of them because of her being afraid of rabies.