What to do about the raccoons?

[ZaHen]

Hello, fellow Missourian! I don’t kill predators, I learn from experiences how to better protect my flock. I have a small flock of chicken hens and one tom turkey, who has been a helpful flock protector.
Predators have a right to live here (in fact, we have encroached on their natural habitats), and they are just earning a living and feeding their families. A few years ago, I had a raccoon kill two of my hens, and about 2 years ago, a hawk killed one of my girls, also. First of all, killing a raptor is illegal, but I would not anyway. And, the raccoon in question continued on with their life. I learned how to better raccoon proof my coop from the experience, and have to date, not had a repeat incident.
Raccoons are territorial and abundant. So, if you relocate them to a different area, that is usually a death sentence anyway, as they are being plopped into someone else’s established territory. By the same factor, if you kill or relocate from your property, this void will be soon filled by others in search of territory. So, the point is to predator-proof, not play a pointless and cruel game of wack-a-mole.
I would trap the family living under your shed, though, and “relocate” them to the woods around you. Then, raccoon proof that shed, so they cannot rehome under there.
There is a humane wildlife “pest control” guy in my area, that does such work. He is knowledgeable about wildlife, and knows their M.O., and so, knows how to work on proper defense, rather than cruel offense, that doesn’t ultimately solve your problems.
I know you are far from me, though in MO. But, he might be worth contacting ~ https://www.humanewildlifesolutionsllc.com/
In regard to raptors, I have increased shelter areas for my girls, and (hopefully) deterrents, such as an occasional scarehawk (my hens are scared of her, too, so, there’s that ~ Ezra adores her!), and crisscrossed ribbons over areas of the yard.
On my coop latches, I have carabiner clips. I also have locks, but over time, they became burdensome. I’ve used the carabiners since 2011, and I’ve not had an animal open the doors ever. The raccoon had gotten into my coop via digging under, not through a door. If clips are not working for you, I would switch to locks.
Of course, there’s nothing, so to speak, to prevent human error (like not closing up/locking coops), etc., other than diligence. We’ve all made mistakes or slipped up.

 

[ZaHen]

Hello, fellow Missourian! I don’t kill predators, I learn from experiences how to better protect my flock. I have a small flock of chicken hens and one tom turkey, who has been a helpful flock protector.
Predators have a right to live here (in fact, we have encroached on their natural habitats), and they are just earning a living and feeding their families. A few years ago, I had a raccoon kill two of my hens, and about 2 years ago, a hawk killed one of my girls, also. First of all, killing a raptor is illegal, but I would not anyway. And, the raccoon in question continued on with their life. I learned how to better raccoon proof my coop from the experience, and have to date, not had a repeat incident.
Raccoons are territorial and abundant. So, if you relocate them to a different area, that is usually a death sentence anyway, as they are being plopped into someone else’s established territory. By the same factor, if you kill or relocate from your property, this void will be soon filled by others in search of territory. So, the point is to predator-proof, not play a pointless and cruel game of wack-a-mole.
I would trap the family living under your shed, though, and “relocate” them to the woods around you. Then, raccoon proof that shed, so they cannot rehome under there.
There is a humane wildlife “pest control” guy in my area, that does such work. He is knowledgeable about wildlife, and knows their M.O., and so, knows how to work on proper defense, rather than cruel offense, that doesn’t ultimately solve your problems.
I know you are far from me, though in MO. But, he might be worth contacting ~ https://www.humanewildlifesolutionsllc.com/
In regard to raptors, I have increased shelter areas for my girls, and (hopefully) deterrents, such as an occasional scarehawk (my hens are scared of her, too, so, there’s that ~ Ezra adores her!), and crisscrossed ribbons over areas of the yard.
On my coop latches, I have carabiner clips. I also have locks, but over time, they became burdensome. I’ve used the carabiners since 2011, and I’ve not had an animal open the doors ever. The raccoon had gotten into my coop via digging under, not through a door. If clips are not working for you, I would switch to locks.
Of course, there’s nothing, so to speak, to prevent human error (like not closing up/locking coops), etc., other than diligence. We’ve all made mistakes or slipped up.

P.S. I don’t intentionally feed predators. I don’t want to add reasons for them to seek out my yard, nor become comfortable hanging out there.

 

[Lilyput]

I just got my new flock of Buff Orpingtons moved into their coop that I built. (not quite finished yet) I live 20 minutes west of Lebanon, Missouri in the wooded area with all sorts of predators out here and I can't find it in me to cage up my birds.

I have a family of 6 raccoons living on my property, underneath an old out building. I have 4 guineas left and they have been around for quite a while. The raccoons seem not to be interested in them and the guineas don't seem to pay any attention to the raccoons. When the evening comes, and lately in the daytime also, they have been raiding the guineas crumble. I figure the raccoons are smart enough to know that as long as they don't eat the birds, the supply of crumble will continue. It's something I believe they learned 3 seasons ago when the killed my last chicken and then there was no food.

Last night at about 1AM, I had an incident of a squawking commotion coming from the chicken coop. When I got out there, 2 hens were wandering in a daze outside of the coop and the door was unlatched. This morning when I went out to open the coop for them, I found that I had lost 2 birds, one of my bird's skin is missing from behind the left eye to the top of her head, and another hen seems to have her tail feathers missing. The bolt latch I have on the coop was unlatched. I really don't think that I forgot to latch the door last night but I am now 74 and am prone to do stupid things like that. From previous experiences with raising foul, I am aware of how smart and dexterous raccoons are. I had one unlatch a cage to reach inside and take my prize pheasant. I don't know what type of critter it was that caused the mayhem last night, but I looked all around on the ground for any paw prints and for any indication that a raccoon might have scaled the coop wall to reach the latch but found nothing. I still can't say for certain that it was a racoon but they are the obvious suspect. (There are possums too.) I know raccoons are not the cute cuddly things that they pretend to be but still, to eradicate their threat, it would mean killing a whole family of them. I was thinking about perhaps I could appease them by filling their bellies with cheap cat food every day so that they wouldn't think about my chickens. But then, they are omnivores just like us and like variety, but then why are they leaving my last 4 guineas alone?

I have guns and can do what has to be done but shooting them would be my very last resort. I am hoping to get feedback from others that also respect the God given fundamental right to life, no mater what creature it is. Is there a more practicle solution then killing them? If killing them is the bottom line is ther a more humane way of doing it then shooting them. I killed one 3 years ago with my 9mm. and they do not dye easily. I had to put 4 rounds in him. Before I fired the last round, he turned his head to look straight up at me in pain, anger, anxiety, and fear, That vision will stick with me forever.

Unfortunately, the racoons love to take off the chicken's heads and then just leave the rest of the body. I'm not sure if it's a delicacy to them or just fun. The racoons have to go!

 

[ZaHen]

I recently lost 9 batams to a raccoon invasion. One little hen survived some how. She is so lonely and skittish

I want to get a young silkie rooster to put with her. Does anyone have advice about that? My big hens want nothing to do with her in fact the aren’t nice to her at all

I would get her a couple of bantam hen pals, too, along with the roo, as she would be his sole attention, and that can cause problems for her. Or, just two hen pals. Keep them separate, if the larger hens are being too aggressive, as larger breed hens can kill smaller birds.

 

[puttytattz]

I have a small wooden tractor coop for my 2 girls. I bought a 10' x 20' canopy carport kit ($125 on ebay 2 years ago) and put the coop under it. Using t-posts, we surrounded it with hardware cloth around the bottom and chicken wire above the hardware cloth. I stuffed strips of chicken wire under the bottom edges of the hardware cloth to prevent digging under it. I was even confident enough to leave their coop door open at night so they always had in and out access. Anytime I let them out of the enclosure to forage, I had to stay right with them because our predator problem was hawks. I moved a few months ago so I've set things up a bit differently now, but that worked so well against ground predators when I needed it. For a big flock, more than one carport could be joined together. They're also not difficult to take apart and move.

thats a great idea, wow you went above and beyond....i had a metal carport type thing that the old residents here left, so i built off it. but the carport idea is great, i did that sort of thing for my dog houses! the roof was ripping so i ordered old billboard fabric off ? google somewhere cuz it is crazy thick plastic. so for their roof on the 10X20 canopy they had a billboard, i think for soup! LOL

 

[Nebraska islander]

I just got my new flock of Buff Orpingtons moved into their coop that I built. (not quite finished yet) I live 20 minutes west of Lebanon, Missouri in the wooded area with all sorts of predators out here and I can't find it in me to cage up my birds.

I have a family of 6 raccoons living on my property, underneath an old out building. I have 4 guineas left and they have been around for quite a while. The raccoons seem not to be interested in them and the guineas don't seem to pay any attention to the raccoons. When the evening comes, and lately in the daytime also, they have been raiding the guineas crumble. I figure the raccoons are smart enough to know that as long as they don't eat the birds, the supply of crumble will continue. It's something I believe they learned 3 seasons ago when the killed my last chicken and then there was no food.

Last night at about 1AM, I had an incident of a squawking commotion coming from the chicken coop. When I got out there, 2 hens were wandering in a daze outside of the coop and the door was unlatched. This morning when I went out to open the coop for them, I found that I had lost 2 birds, one of my bird's skin is missing from behind the left eye to the top of her head, and another hen seems to have her tail feathers missing. The bolt latch I have on the coop was unlatched. I really don't think that I forgot to latch the door last night but I am now 74 and am prone to do stupid things like that. From previous experiences with raising foul, I am aware of how smart and dexterous raccoons are. I had one unlatch a cage to reach inside and take my prize pheasant. I don't know what type of critter it was that caused the mayhem last night, but I looked all around on the ground for any paw prints and for any indication that a raccoon might have scaled the coop wall to reach the latch but found nothing. I still can't say for certain that it was a racoon but they are the obvious suspect. (There are possums too.) I know raccoons are not the cute cuddly things that they pretend to be but still, to eradicate their threat, it would mean killing a whole family of them. I was thinking about perhaps I could appease them by filling their bellies with cheap cat food every day so that they wouldn't think about my chickens. But then, they are omnivores just like us and like variety, but then why are they leaving my last 4 guineas alone?

I have guns and can do what has to be done but shooting them would be my very last resort. I am hoping to get feedback from others that also respect the God given fundamental right to life, no mater what creature it is. Is there a more practicle solution then killing them? If killing them is the bottom line is ther a more humane way of doing it then shooting them. I killed one 3 years ago with my 9mm. and they do not dye easily. I had to put 4 rounds in him. Before I fired the last round, he turned his head to look straight up at me in pain, anger, anxiety, and fear, That vision will stick with me forever.

Go nearest farm store and look for dog proof foot hold traps. Use a metal rebar electic fence post with the triangle spade only push the non spade end thru then end link of trap and pound half way into ground. Set spring loaded trigger and bait with cat food around and sone inside tube of trap. When they eat the kibbles around tube they will stick thepaw into tube and it will get them by paw. There will be a 4 ft diameter circle of ground destruction from panic trying to free itself but you will probably find it sleeping from exhaustion in morning and can dispatch it quickly. Traps are 15 to $20 each and are ridiculously effective.
Try to put out as many as you can and dont forget to buy the setting tool just one for all. Look up videos on dog proof foot hold traps and you will get the idea. Good luck and take a bite out of rabies in your area.
Id put a electric fence hot wire around coop at night as a deterrent from then after.
Movies portray coons as nice fluffy but they are far from that!

 

[puttytattz]

This is a common sentiment, but in truth, is dead wrong. Key word being "dead".

This from none other than the humane society.....and the same theme is echoed by nearly every state fish and game in the nation. Some feel so strongly about it, they have gone past "we don't recommend you do it" to having made it illegal to do it. The idea being that bad.

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/scrap-trap-when-evicting-wildlife

The solution always......always....comes back to safe housing for birds where predators can't get to them. Regrettably, far to many folks inadvertently put their birds in housing that isn't. Lack of experience as to what constitutes safe housing is the primary reason. That and economy.......they can't afford to do it right. But offer bomb proof "safe housing" and the threat from predators goes away. They can be stacked up wall to wall and treetop tall and it won't matter.

Long term, the best use for traps is as a temporary stop gap to stop the carnage being conducted by a predator until you can shore up the defenses. And if you do decide to trap it, you kill it. If you can't accept that, leave the traps alone. That is the true humane response.

to each his own! i wouldnt want that kind of Karma on my head! they were put here for a reason, and arent trying to be bad, they are simply being raccoons. and how many people who moved to the country type setting moved for the wildlife? most of them i think, and then to get mad at the wildlife for trying to survive? well that isnt very smart....move to the city, thats a good way to leave the raccoons too!

 

[puttytattz]

Go nearest farm store and look for dog proof foot hold traps. Use a metal rebar electic fence post with the triangle spade only push the non spade end thru then end link of trap and pound half way into ground. Set spring loaded trigger and bait with cat food around and sone inside tube of trap. When they eat the kibbles around tube they will stick thepaw into tube and it will get them by paw. There will be a 4 ft diameter circle of ground destruction from panic trying to free itself but you will probably find it sleeping from exhaustion in morning and can dispatch it quickly. Traps are 15 to $20 each and are ridiculously effective.
Try to put out as many as you can and dont forget to buy the setting tool just one for all. Look up videos on dog proof foot hold traps and you will get the idea. Good luck and take a bite out of rabies in your area.
Id put a electric fence hot wire around coop at night as a deterrent from then after.
Movies portray coons as nice fluffy but they are far from that!

wow, yea and in the morning find them half dead after trying to chew their paws off....yikes the comments here are very nasty....i dont think i need to be here anymore- bye. i thought people came here for help from nice people. not people coming here to learn how to rip an animals paw off, or torture it overnight....my gawd....adios! there has to be better helps sights than this. and people who write this stuff about animals and think this way always have a nasty snappy comment for anyone who disagrees with them. DONT BOTHER-comments will be blocked in about ahhh 8 seconds!

 

[havenheart]

Don't know yet if I can shoot'em but I have a trap and I know my brother will come over and do the deed! We just got our fence up around our hen house. It's a similarly big 8x8 house up on 2 ft legs. It is heavy! The fence is 3 sided, attached to back of our shop. We dont have the chickens in yet as they're not quite big enough...thank goodness! First night before the posts of the electric netting were attached to the wall, something knocked them both to the ground! Hmmm we said, were the neighbors dogs running roughshod through here? We'd noticed empty space under the shop along the wall and resolved to block it with hardware cloth before we put chickens in the run. So my nusband righted the posts, attached them and turned on the fence, gate closed. Last night, something chewed a 12 inch hole through the vertical wires, about a foot to 2 ft off the ground until it hit an electrified wire, which stopped it! Apparently since it was braid, it made it thru the first few. One narrow electrical strand was left at the last bite, lol.
What I'm thinking, after hearing you folks, is that we have trapped a racoon racoon in that space under the shop. What do you think?

 

[ryder lake]

Best way to deal with coons is to secure your coop, by makeing it coon "proof" if they cant get in they will simply go somewhere, else where they can get easy access. Its that simple, Guardian dogs can be effective to a point, keeping your coop top covered is a must, placeing 12 inch wide cement pavers around the perimater, will stop any digging it works 100% ive used this for years and have never had anything get underneath, These are the two main access points for coons, haveing strong guage wire is important, depending on what type of intruders you have, bears will rip chicken wire to pieces, it is useless defense against bears, and cougars. I dont use chicken wire, i use a heavy steel guage mesh, it cost more, but its worth not loseing all your chickens over. If you make your coop "defense proof" you will not have to worry about intruders, ive had all types, and ive out smarted them all.