Well...It happened...I'm sad and furious. UPDATED! CAUGHT 2!

[katharinad]

We saw two and ended up killing 6. Keep on trapping, because there may more then you think.
Katharina

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

I agree, they live in communities so when you empty those traps reset them. Good work on getting 2 though!

 

[keetsms]

So sorry for your loss. I lost a Silkie last night to something. Probably a coon. Looks like we will both be hunting tonight.

 

[sonew123]

Im so sorry:-( I was there last summer. Like the other posters sadi if you caught 2 that easily-there are alot more waiting to take their spots:-(

I caught 5 in 4 weeks-then the tiraid ended-we have traps out now and will continue throughout the summer just in case-we lock all ours up now so Im not worried about anything getting them but Im not taking any chances-nothing yet but Im sure between the fischers-foxes-racoons-weasels etc...Ill get some before Summer ends-good luck!

 

[LindsayB]

We are going to set both traps again tonight and see how many more we are dealing with. We're going to keep setting them until my automatic door is here! One of them was really mean and kept growling and hissing at me. they other one was, i hate to say this, 'cute' lol. It kept giving me the puppy dog eyes! We ended up taking them far away to a creek.

 

[babyblue]

please even though the cute little beady eyes say otherwise dont rehome caught animals like that. it is very very tough on the animal to have to learn a new area, find food and shelter. animals that are rehomed often become very trap and coop/pen wise and become a HUGE issue for the next person with livestock. the best thing it to put it down quickly. if you dont have the heart or belly for it honestly there are a lot of hungry people out there right now who would love the meat and the fur. think of it as a civic duty helping the less fortunate.

 

[Wolfwoman]

How about kill them, skin them, get them tanned and have hats or mittens made from them?

By taking them and releasing somewhere else, you just gave someone else a problem.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Quote:
Please don't release the animals you catch in your traps!!! Even if you think it's in an area that's "far away" with no other homes/farms nearby. Raccoons can travel great distances, they may try to find their way back to your neighborhood, or travel to another neighborhood where there are other backyard chicken keepers. They can also carry diseases that can spread to both the wild & domestic animal populations in their new location. You are putting yourself at risk of injury while releasing the animal. And it may be illegal, if caught you may face a stiff fine.

Contact your local County Animal Control, they may take your trapped raccoons & euthanize them for you.

 

[jjthink]

I am terribly sorry for what your hen went through

. Clearly, you were totally right to be concerned. I would never yield to a DH or DW or D anything when innocent lives are at risk. Find someone else to help you if need be, or give the birds to someone who can keep them safe.

I am sorry to say that your very charming set up is only good for fake chickens. It's a shame, I know, that we have to turn lovely chicken digs into less picturesque Fort Knox's to keep them safe. But we do because the answer is not to keep catching preds but rather it is to pred proof your set up. It is the ONLY long term solution.

Everyone needs to be kept somewhere safe until this is resolved. If you are not certain the coop is pred proof (raccoons have amazing skills at getting in) then the birds need to be elsewhere for the moment.

Rescue Remedy in the survivor's water (drop or two) each day for the next few days may help a bit with the trauma of seeing their buddy attacked.

I'm sorry.
JJ

 

[sunflowerenvy]

kill the raccoon then take cut it from neck to butt and hang it near the coop that will keep them from come back for about 4 monthes