What the hell just happened!

[schellie69]

I would use wire to enclose the top of your run and around the bottom and bury the wire that might help if you forget to lock the pop door glad you didn't lose any of your birds.

 

[kfchickenlady]

Quote:
thanks!
(glad we dont have those!)

 

[smiley]

Quote:
Man, I am getting more freaked out just reading this! The coop is now only about 20 feet from the house. That is just so bold of the raccoon.

Has anyone had success with motion detector lights?

No, I can't fence the run. We put coop inside our backyard fence. They had previously been out on a bout 3/4 acres which was fenced with 4 rail wood and wire mesh flush with ground. I paid a couple grand extra for the wire to be "professionally" installed keep foxes and coyotes out. That did not work out for me so well.

So, we moved the coop to backyard (broke 2 wheels in the process -so much for portable). The coop is about 20' from house in our fenced in backyard. I bought that portable chicken fence (4' high) to keep them from running the whole backyard (as I have a toddler and running through big chicken poop barefoot is gross). We strung a cotton rope over top of fence as well. For some reason, it keeps them from flying over fence out of run. Their run space is about 45 x 90 of grass that we keep long to encourage bugs and crickets. It's just the 3 girls right now that we lost Daisy.

I have been late getting home nights too but have always had them tucked in by 9:00. Now, I am tucking them in before dark and just luting them in with sunflowers seeds.

What are the chances the raccoon will come back during the day now that he knows where the chickens are?

Should I be worried now. We do have to leave for the day. Will the raccoon come back in broad daylight?

In regard to a fischer cat, they look like skinny baby bears with tails. They have long claws and sharp teeth and are great climbers. I have only seen one in my whole life in broad daylight as they are rare to see. But, I hear them at night during breeding season. It is a Bizarre, bizarre sound they make.....

 

[kfchickenlady]

Quote:
Man, I am getting more freaked out just reading this! The coop is now only about 20 feet from the house. That is just so bold of the raccoon.

Has anyone had success with motion detector lights?

No, I can't fence the run. We put coop inside our backyard fence. They had previously been out on a bout 3/4 acres which was fenced with 4 rail wood and wire mesh flush with ground. I paid a couple grand extra for the wire to be "professionally" installed keep foxes and coyotes out. That did not work out for me so well.

So, we moved the coop to backyard (broke 2 wheels in the process -so much for portable). The coop is about 20' from house in our fenced in backyard. I bought that portable chicken fence (4' high) to keep them from running the whole backyard (as I have a toddler and running through big chicken poop barefoot is gross). We strung a cotton rope over top of fence as well. For some reason, it keeps them from flying over fence out of run. Their run space is about 45 x 90 of grass that we keep long to encourage bugs and crickets. It's just the 3 girls right now that we lost Daisy.

I have been late getting home nights too but have always had them tucked in by 9:00. Now, I am tucking them in before dark and just luting them in with sunflowers seeds.

What are the chances the raccoon will come back during the day now that he knows where the chickens are?

Should I be worried now. We do have to leave for the day. Will the raccoon come back in broad daylight?

In regard to a fischer cat, they look like skinny baby bears with tails. They have long claws and sharp teeth and are great climbers. I have only seen one in my whole life in broad daylight as they are rare to see. But, I hear them at night during breeding season. It is a Bizarre, bizarre sound they make.....

Im not into those from your description....LOL
I have seen raccoons cross the road in the daytime, but rarely. I have 4 dogs so if one did come during the day, they would scare it off, do you have dogs? I guess its a possibility.

 

[smiley]

My dog passed last Spring at 15 1/2 years old. I have had problems ever since.......

Anyone else, will the raccoon come during the day?

We have to leave soon and I am trying to decide if I should put them in (where they will be ticked as they have always been free range birds).

Any other opinions, please, please.....

 

[chicmom]

I think once a predator gets something to eat, even eggs, they are bound to come back. (Sorry to say.) Maybe you could put out a few traps just outside your fence with something yummy in it like wet cat food......a coon would really go for that. You have to anchor it in there though, or they'll just take the food and run. Now, if it's a fox, your trap cannot smell like human at all. They are very wiley critters.

I don't have experience with motion detector lights, but if others say they work, I'd try it. Also, if money isn't a worry, there you could install a door with a timer on it that would close automatically...just set it for a particular time when you know the ladies will have gone inside......

Good luck to you!

 

[BC_Farms]

New England neighbor!! I live right over the Mass border.

We lost our guinea hens to what I thought originally was a fox, but now (because it was in the middle of the night) I think it was an owl. I have not seen any fisher cats near the farm (in Chaplin, but I've heard other people having problems with them), but I have seen them around where I live in Enfield.

They are MEAN and definitely agile. Most "predators" I know will run away as soon as they see a human (or ignore them like skunks), I had a fisher stare right at me for 5 minutes!!! If it were an owl you *probably* would have heard their wings because they have massive wings. But if you saw something larger, raccoons definitely have more meat on them.


ETA: Raccoons are crepuscular and nocturnal, so they can be around in the mornings or the evenings too. There may be a few stragglers coming in from a late night food fest around 9 or so. But they won't be out during midday unless they are lost or something.

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/wildlife/living/living_with_raccoons.htm

 

[smiley]

Quote:
And a big hello back to my fellow New Englander!!!

Well, I will head out than and make sure I am home way before dusk. This is so stressful. *sigh*

Thanks to the posters who mentioned the auto doors. I will look into them!

Chicmom-thanks. Yeah, we live on 51 acres though so if I trapped one raccoon there would be dozens more to take its place, I fear. I really figured the girls were safe in the backyard next to the house. *throw hands up*

Thanks again everyone. I should look on the bright side that the girls are alive. Now, I just have to keep them that way....

 

[gretchenhau]

Our dogs have kept the predators away, My husband didn't want new dogs, but when the animal control guy showed up at your house with 2 6 day old lab mix pups with no mom, well the rest is hiistory, and since they run with the chickens, and ducks, no more predators, not that I have let my guard down, but it has helped.

Before the dogs, we would set live traps and get racoons all the time, a possom also, let them go on the other side of the river about 10 miles away, just couldnt'kill one of the creatures, so I do still set the traps every so often, just to be sure.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
Man, I am getting more freaked out just reading this! The coop is now only about 20 feet from the house. That is just so bold of the raccoon.

Has anyone had success with motion detector lights?

No, I can't fence the run. We put coop inside our backyard fence. They had previously been out on a bout 3/4 acres which was fenced with 4 rail wood and wire mesh flush with ground. I paid a couple grand extra for the wire to be "professionally" installed keep foxes and coyotes out. That did not work out for me so well.

So, we moved the coop to backyard (broke 2 wheels in the process -so much for portable). The coop is about 20' from house in our fenced in backyard. I bought that portable chicken fence (4' high) to keep them from running the whole backyard (as I have a toddler and running through big chicken poop barefoot is gross). We strung a cotton rope over top of fence as well. For some reason, it keeps them from flying over fence out of run. Their run space is about 45 x 90 of grass that we keep long to encourage bugs and crickets. It's just the 3 girls right now that we lost Daisy.

I have been late getting home nights too but have always had them tucked in by 9:00. Now, I am tucking them in before dark and just luting them in with sunflowers seeds.

What are the chances the raccoon will come back during the day now that he knows where the chickens are?

coon are a lot more sensitive to human activity then day / night when the human activity dies down they become active I see it all the time at dumpsters several times a week, lights on all night and trucks arriving at all hours the lights only help them to see what they are eating



Should I be worried now. We do have to leave for the day. Will the raccoon come back in broad daylight?

In regard to a fischer cat, they look like skinny baby bears with tails. They have long claws and sharp teeth and are great climbers. I have only seen one in my whole life in broad daylight as they are rare to see. But, I hear them at night during breeding season. It is a Bizarre, bizarre sound they make.....


I know a coupla guys who are catching fisher in Pa. most folks do not realize they are that far south bobcats make quiet a bit of noise during breeding season as well