What to do about the raccoons?

[cmom]

Gosh my friend we have raccoons also on the farm! I understand your dilemma but all you can do to protect your babies is live trap and re-home or...unfortunately end their lives I have not had a problem with predators thank Goodness but we have tons of corn around too!

I would eliminate or contact a wildlife organization to deal with them. We are rural and live on a dead end road and have been recipients of other peoples relocations (re-home). In many states it is illegal to relocate without the property owners permission.

 

[RoseHawke]

We're in the suburbs, but ours is one of 5 "estate lots" of 5 acres each that are mostly unusable overgrown woods. We're also next to a creek that's just a varmint highway. We pretty much keep a heavy duty trap baited with marshmallows most of the time. With that bait we catch raccoons (or the very occasional 'possum,) but not cats. 'Coons are despatched with CO since shooting is not an option here. We can't be rid of all of them, but we keep them thinned out anyway. The odd thing is, when we lived in the country I never saw a raccoon. Ever.

 

[JNC]

I ha a raccoon problem too. Don’t leave food or water outside at night because this will attract them. When it’s time for bed try and see if there’s any holes in the coop where the raccoon can get into- they can dig and get into holes as small as 3’’ too four inches in diameter. I have a lot of holes around my coop but i cover most of them up with boards. at night i have to lean a large board against the door to prevent a racoon from coming. Raccoons are very smart and can figure out how to open a latch.

 

[Frankiegirl]

Living on the boondocks is so very nice! No HOA, no rules against roosters, lots of space outside, especially wonderful during this pandemic.
Mary

Mary...that sounds like bliss! I’m moving soon, out of the HOA, where I can have roosters...and no neighbors that can see through my kitchen windows!

 

[lilred77]

Our flock has been terrorized by raccoons at night. We lost half our flock in less than 2 months. We reinforced the perimeter of the lot (oversized run) but still lost our beautiful rooster after a raccoon bent wires back and found a small hole to get in. Thankfully we caught a very large raccoon last night and will begin rebuilding our flock.

 

[svh]

2 weeks ago I had a coon(s) damage my welded wire chunnel, in one night, to the point that I don't see how they didn't get in. They also caused major damage to my plastic deck box, in which I store metal containers of feed/corn.

I fixed the tunnel problem, and put out 3 dog proof traps baited with corn, and to date I've trapped and dispatched 6 and 1/4 coons, (don't ask about the 1/4, unless you really want to know !) one weighing a whopping 35 pounds !!! I use the 410 shotgun to quickly end any suffering, as the .22 is sometimes ineffective on squirmin vermin !

My 3 dogs have learned there will be excitement out around the coop in the wee hours, and pretty much lay on the porch all night, all three pointing right at the traps ! Believe me, they let me know when anything goes down, and because of this my trap rate, and therefor kill rate, has gone down. Either that, or I've got the whole fam damily.

I'm sure more will be along soon.

 

[gpresdo]

We're in the suburbs, but ours is one of 5 "estate lots" of 5 acres each that are mostly unusable overgrown woods. We're also next to a creek that's just a varmint highway. We pretty much keep a heavy duty trap baited with marshmallows most of the time. With that bait we catch raccoons (or the very occasional 'possum,) but not cats. 'Coons are despatched with CO since shooting is not an option here. We can't be rid of all of them, but we keep them thinned out anyway. The odd thing is, when we lived in the country I never saw a raccoon. Ever.

Your raccoons are human fed by the neighbors directly .....and feed left over from pets. Typically, a city (densely populated human area) has 10-20 x's more per cap. than any country setting.

Properly secure your birds...trap and take into the country and release. Remember they are only looking for dinner for themselves and their babies.
Our worst experience was when we trapped a large raccoon sow and her (4).... 1/3 grown babies were laying in a group outside the trap in the a m. Yes we had to let her rejoin the babies. The little guys were not the most polite types as we arranged release of mom.
I mused that she knew us and brought the kids for insurance. LOL

We live on the edge of a small city and watch a parade of raccoons each evening following the same route seeking food. Yes...ours is a stop for scrap food also. Our chicken farm is located 1 mile away.

They are God's creations with us having dominion...but, that includes..... respect.

 

[Folly's place]

Those of us who do live in the country are NOT HAPPY to have people dropping off trap wise and possibly sick raccoons, illegally in many states, anywhere near our properties!!!
Spend time and money making your poultry safe, and don't trap critters unless you will take care of them.
Mary

 

[2 many chickens]

I have no more pity for raccoons. They have eliminated 6 of my bantams in the past week. They almost blinded one of my bantam mixes last week. Thankfully he's somehow doing just fine now. End them when you have a chance. I am on the lookout every night now, even though the coop had been fortified..

 

[Birdmom2020]

I live in the country. Coons possums foxes and coyotes are all very very popular around here. Plus this area has an extreme overpopulation of cats both feral and I assume abandoned as some are friendly. I've seen the Coons and possums every night for months. Coyotes and foxes not as much but enough. My birds are cooped close to my house and I'm a very very light sleeper and I've never heard any commotion at all. They're all well rested when let out into the run every morning. All of the neighbors around here have chickens and never have had any bothered. I guess it's just about how secure the coop is. Mine is a metal shed with clip latches on the door and a flip door that gets clipped and covered with a plywood board and a cinder block. My birds love roosting on the cinder block so that's just a plus. I have a momma coon that comes on my porch every night looking around and leaves when she can't find food. I'm guessing she will bring her babies soon. One day she was really big and I didn't see her for a few then she came back significantly smaller so I assume she just had babies. Or it's a different coon altogether. I just don't leave food out and watch them come and look then leave. Maybe the person who lived here before me fed them..? Idk. But they come every night looking but never even look toward the coop so as long as they keep that way I'm fine.

Edit to add: if it weren't for my chickens and my kids and pets the animal lover in me would feed them but I know the risks they pose on children pets and especially chickens. Plus after the run-in my dog had with one last year I don't feel sorry for them anymore! When they start acting stupid then they will be disposed of. Until then as long as they're not messing with my stuff they can come and go as long as it's during the night and my kids and animals aren't threatened.