Do Raccoons attack during the day?

[Clarebaxter]

I have recently started letting my chickens out in my side yard. The fencing at good enough to keep the chickens in but we have raccoons in the neighborhood and the fencing will definitely not keep out a raccoon. What are the chances of a daytime attack? I don't let them out if I am not around yet. Mostly I let them out in the afternoon and by dusk they are back in the coop and I lock them up for the night. Not really worried about nighttime attacks as my coop is well built and outside my bedroom window. I leave the window cracked so the dogs and I can hear if there is a ruckus outside. That would be my second question - If raccoons did attack the coop would the chickens sound the alarm?

This is the first winter for both me and the chickens. Today we had our first snow and they would not come out and walk on it. They did eat some but that was it, they chose to stay in the yard so I locked them back up.

Thanks!



Clare

 

[my sunwolf]

Raccoons rarely attack during the day, and you are right, if they do attack you should know it... Of course, you may already have lost a bird by then. Is there a rooster in with them?

 

[Clarebaxter]

I do have a rooster but he is a Silkie. He would raise the alarm in the case of a predator but he is too small to be any sort of effective defense. I live in the city limits and am not "technically" supposed to have a rooster but my neighbors are good and our houses are on fairly large lots and Rodney's crows are not that loud as compared to a full size rooster.

I have never seen the raccoons during the day but they are here. My next door neighbors garbage was dumped just a few nights ago. So, if something tried to break into the coop at night they would all raise a fuss? That is good to know. Rodney was crowing in the middle of the night last night but I think it was because it was snowing for the first time. I looked out the window and nothing was lurking near the coop. I think the whiteness of the snow had him confused, thinking dawn was here.

 

[my sunwolf]

Ooh no, some chickens will make a ruckus at night, but others are completely silent even as they are being eaten, especially if it is a quick kill. You're right that a good rooster should start up crowing when he hears something off. During the day, chickens will usually make a fuss, but they may not see the raccoon/predator until it has already grabbed one.

I have to say that we have plenty of raccoons, but we have never had a daytime attack. It is not too likely, but I have heard some stories. You are probably more likely to have daytime issues from dogs.

Sorry if these posts were confusing

 

[Scott H]

I got a game cam picture of one at 10 something AM just on the other side of the fence from our girls.
Why not trap and dispose of the raccoons before you have trouble?

 

[Clarebaxter]

I have never seen them in my yard. I have three terriers that keep them out of the back but unfortunately I can't let me dogs in the side yard where the chickens are, I don't trust them with the birds. I am not really worried about a night attack. They would have to do some work to get into the coop and it is 30 feet from my bedroom window. I think the dogs, who sleep with me and wake me when they are concerned, would hear them and go crazy. Think I will beef up the fence to protect from wandering dogs though.

Thanks!



Clare

 

[eggboy]

I just say a big ole coon walk right through my yard couple days ago. If I still had my chickens i have no doubt that he would have gone for them, so yes a daytime attack is possible. In fact when i lost my little flock it was still daylight yet, and i suspect that it may have been a raccoon that did it.

 

[BrickWall Honey]

Yes, they can be out in the daytime and the can attack in the day. It is more of a problem with daytime raiders in built up urban areas. Rarer in the country. Also rabid raccoons are out in the daytime more than the unaffected. Keep a tight coop and fencing.

 

[Clarebaxter]

Thanks for all the info. I will be working on fortifying my fencing to protect my flock. They LOVE being out during the day.

 

[Jeremy021]

Once I was sitting on my porch at around 4pm and I noticed that there was a raccoon stalking one of my RIR hens.
The raccoon was in some bushes near my fence and the hen was scratching at the grass.
I have a big white ameraucana rooster and when he saw the raccoon approaching the hen he charged at the raccoon and attacked it!
The raccoon ran.
You should hear your roosters warning calls if he spots a raccoon, my hens have learned to retreat back to the coop when they hear that sound.