Wondering what did this? Chewing

[jess924]

have some new chewing type marks on our coop/run...we are in western MA and pretty rural. Have a # of predators including skunks, foxes, opossums, and deer to name a few I have personally seen...wondering who did this...my coop is pretty secure with hardware cloth bottom secured and buried and all hardware cloth sides...don’t believe they can breach but want to know if there is maybe something else?

 

[Silkies rule Forever]

Something could have been chewing on the cage trying to get in!?!?

 

[Flockandfowl46]

Raccoons are usually the ones that will take the time to chew like that

 

[jess924]

Definitely have those around as well...Is there something that I can treat the wood with to deter them from chewing? Concerned that might compromise the integrity of the frame if continue

 

[TheTropix]

You can try sprinkling cayenne pepper around the area. You can pick it up cheap in the 'value spices' bin at WalMart/Dollar Store... They do a lot of sniffing, so let 'em snort some of that and see what they think. burn baby, burn

 

[roosterhavoc]

Haha. You would just be giving them spicy chicken. Kill the raccoons. Problem solved.

 

[WVduckchick]

spicy chicken... roosterhavoc cracks me up!

I've seen squirrels chew like that also.

 

[TheTropix]

ROFL YUMMMM hahhahaaa I meant put it on the outside of the pen!! hahahhahaa If you can catch the little &%!! while it's out there, I totally agree about killing it. My little .22 has saved many chickens here, too. You might have to get up in the middle of the night with your flashlight and 'shine them'.

 

[CCUK]

I put Stockholm tar on the rabbit runs to stop them chewing. It works for them! I know this may be a determined predator not a rabbit but it may stop them chewing. A .22 would definately be better for eradication!

 

[adrikeen]

I realize this probably won't help...but it's slightly humorous. You can distract the raccoon using a bowl of cat or dog food. I found this out by accident while trying to coax two stray cats that were around my property. The raccoon would take the bowl of food, hide the bowl/play hide and seek with the bowl (found it under the fire place, car/SUV/bushes) but then realized if he/she returned it to the front door it would be refilled. Why bother with chickens when you have refilled dog/cat food each night!