Weirdest Raccoon Ever and not sure what to do with it?

[Anime2lover]

I find the OP's concern about finding a coon out and about the pens and chickens borderline amusing. You didn't know?

To those who are wondering, yes there are all manner of predators and varmints lurking about after hours.....under the cover of darkness. More than you would ever imagine. If would be the exception to the rule if they weren't.

So what to do? Provide birds with housing that nothing, absolutely nothing can get in and the birds will be safe. Do that and you (and birds) have nothing to worry about. Fail to do that and you can kiss them goodbye. Varmints will win.

I have this Raccoon that comes at night to swim in my muscovies kiddy pool. Well that's what it used to do at least. This night when I went to put my 3 month old chickens in the coop, it was already dark. 3 of them were on top of the baby run I have for when their to small to go with the big girls and the rest were huddled in the corner of a fence I got. The raccoon was at the bottom of the baby pen and this is totally my fault for leaving too much food in with my mama duck but the raccoon was reaching in for food while above it's head were my little bantam and 2 others. Funny thing is that it wasn't or didn't look like it was at least a threat to them in the moment. Okay so once it saw me at the entrance of the pen it climbed my fence out and jumped on to the nearest tree. I counted up my babies and they were all good then put them in the coop. The entire time I was putting them away I tried to keep my eye on the raccoon and my babies but half way I lost sight of it. In the moment I thought it just ran deep into the woods. Though once I secured my coop I had to go over to my old coop that's now a shed/still a coop for my oldest hen Beatrice. Now when I walked over there and was like 10ish feet away maybe a little more I saw the raccoon right in front of the door to where Beatrice was. Thankfully it ran off once I kinda got scared for my hen and yelled at it. I think it was going for my treat bowl that I had filled with fruit I mean there wasn't much left but still. Now I'm very confused cause it hasn't attacked any of my birds but makes a mess in the kiddy pool. I guess you'd say my question is what should I do trap it and relocate or just keep letting it come because it hasn't done anything but swim in my pool? (And yes I've seen it while all my birds doors to the coops are open in the dark though it's never near them, part from the thing I explained above.)

I'm inclined to agree with predator proofing. Sounds like your pens are to easy for that coon to get into. Wich would mean that other animals can get in to.

Also, before relocating, think about the laws in your area, weather your gonna kill or not, and if you do relocate, think about the coon it's self, and other nearby fafms where you release.

 

[hayley3]

The raccoon is probably young and hasn't yet learned to kill, which could be anytime now.

 

[HarmonyEostre]

I agree with the other posts. I would not be leaving anything out for the coon. It may be back for a duck or chicken dinner when you least expect it. We are rural on a dead end road. Now and then we get other people relocations. I do see vehicles now and then going down our road but when they can't go any further they turn around and I think some release their catches. This is not a predator but was left down by the main road at the end of my driveway. Luckily we found it and found it a home.
View attachment 2203585

That's so kind of you to take the duck in.

 

[Hidrainja4]

I have a predator proof/sturdy coop. I do not let my chickens out early because the raccoons are still going to bed. I put them in the coop before twilight because that is when the raccoons come out. Clean up the food so nothing is left out, lockup your birds early. Maybe dump the kiddie pool before night time so the raccoon can't swim in it. Ask yourself are you raising chickens or making a spa resort for raccoons. You can not kill every raccoon in the world, if you remove this one there are ten ready to move into the great set up you have for them. You can take away the luxurious set up you have for the raccoons. I feel for you, But for sure one day mr. raccoon will decide chicken is on the menu.

 

[333113]

So what to do? Provide birds with housing that nothing, absolutely nothing can get in and the birds will be safe. Do that and you (and birds) have nothing to worry about. Fail to do that and you can kiss them goodbye. Varmints will win.

Safe housing is worth it. You will sleep much better.
Sadly, EVERYBODY likes the taste of chicken, including the varmints.

 

[cmom]

It is so awful that someone would leave that poor duckling for dead! What a lucky duck to have found a loving home!

It was a young goose.

 

[Heatherella]

It was a young goose.

Oh! Oops!

 

[cmom]

A friend told me about a friend of his who was looking for a goose so I gave it to them.