We have geese!

[ljw695]

Now that (Hardware cloth) looks like it might work.

We also have rabbits--in standard rabbit cages hanging from the barn ceiling--and I noticed that several of the litters were missing babies. We had at first thought that one of the does was eating hers until I counted the other litters and almost all the cages were missing some. One doe had thirteen babies, we farmed out three and left the other ten with her. She's down to five. We set a live trap near the pens and caught a grown raccoon. My husband euthanized it and put it in a rabbit pellet bag until it could be disposed of properly later. The next morning when one of the guys went to pick up the bag, it started moving. Her five babies had crawled into the bag with her. Those were euthanized as well.

Earlier this summer my daughter was given a small, secure chicken house with an enclosed run--all on a long pallet with fencing on the bottom--and thirty-three chicks (of several different breeds and colors, odd varieties {some with the fuzzy feet}). They forgot to lock them in one night and a raccoon or coons killed all but three.

So we're trying to be VERY careful.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Now that (Hardware cloth) looks like it might work.

We also have rabbits--in standard rabbit cages hanging from the barn ceiling--and I noticed that several of the litters were missing babies. We had at first thought that one of the does was eating hers until I counted the other litters and almost all the cages were missing some. One doe had thirteen babies, we farmed out three and left the other ten with her. She's down to five. We set a live trap near the pens and caught a grown raccoon. My husband euthanized it and put it in a rabbit pellet bag until it could be disposed of properly later. The next morning when one of the guys went to pick up the bag, it started moving. Her five babies had crawled into the bag with her. Those were euthanized as well.

Earlier this summer my daughter was given a small, secure chicken house with an enclosed run--all on a long pallet with fencing on the bottom--and thirty-three chicks (of several different breeds and colors, odd varieties {some with the fuzzy feet}). They forgot to lock them in one night and a raccoon or coons killed all but three.

So we're trying to be VERY careful.

I know what you mean we have to be 1 step ahead of them, I'm sorry for both of your losses we seem to have to learn the hard way at times. I have gotten out of bed and walked out to my houses to make sure I locked all the doors, I never want to second guess myself and come out to a dead flock. using 1/2 inch harware cloth around the bottom of your pens will keep coons from reaching in and pulling anything out I have seen some houses and pens with hardware cloth completely surrounding it top and bottom, that would be a very expensive endeavor but you'd rest that everyone is safe. How awful to come out and see the flock killed and mutilated. I hope ya'll can figure out what you want to do to keep them safe. Keep us updated.