Hey, Will Raccoons Eat My Chickens?

[McChooky]

First somewhat warm night, and I looked at the hardware cloth I have over the window and just couldn't let myself leave the window wide open. I think I'm going to reinforce it with a second layer.

Even though a coon likely can't get up to the window since it's sheetmetal siding if someting where to jump up there and then start working on the hardware cloth it's over.

Even hardware cloth can have flaws that can allow it to be exploited. But also it's only as good as you fasten it down.

Adding a layer of welded wire fencing over top of the hw cloth will help support the weight of a climber and prevent it from tearing when attached properly.A boar (male coon) is stronger and heavier than a female.My Bassett will sounds alerts when he sees one but he'll shakes his head from side to side to let me know he's not messing with it .They'll drown a dog.

 

[McChooky]

Wow. I might re-think the latches. I might try to find out which latches they could not open. Thank you.

I use gate latches and carabiners(key holders)

 

[McChooky]

Racoons are a serious threat, but when it comes to predator management someone on here once gave great advice.
Leave the predators you have in place until / unless they attack. Why? Predators have territory. If they are successful they are able to defend the food resources of that territory.
If you knock off the top dog, you get an influx of lower tier predators, including hungrier coon families, and critters the coon used to run off/eat.
A resident predator is usually better behaved than itinerant ones, and a fat coon is less of a threat than a starving one.

At our previous place we had a big coon family that traipsed all over the coops at night (next to woods and big trees). It was annoying and concerning so I started trapping them off.
Well, shortly after I hear a dreadful noise at night. *ping* *screech* *ping*
I run out there and a really angry skinny coon is on the coop door with his fists imbedded in the wire and he's wrenching it back as hard as he can. The whole section of wire was bowing and snapping back with the pinging noise. He was making the screeching noise, from pain or frustration I don't know. It was a terrible racket. So I came close with my flashlight yelling at him but he wouldn't stop. I had to spray the hose on jet before he quit and left.
Then I go up to the coop and try to recreate the movement in the HW cloth panel, thinking "Is it really that loose?" Umm, No. It was solidly attached. I tried my best and could not wrench the wire away the way he was... conclusion, racoon is stronger than me.
So now I test every section when we build / repair. If it feels like it gives for me then it's likely to fail to a coon. And at this property we let the fat coons stay in place and they haven't acted determined at all.

They'll try to pull boards off too

 

[McChooky]

I trap my interlopers and cart them off to a nature spot. We are rural and for whatever reason (not very progressive) there is a "city" lake that is not at all tended to. Has a natural walking trail around it where I often take my dogs. I let the coons go there. That way they have a water source. I always look down on people who take the easy way out and say, "just shoot it." But someone has to be on that rung of the ladder I guess. Just not me.

Be careful it doesn't get hold of your dog near the water. They'll drown a dog.

 

[DLA]

I use gate latches and carabiners(key holders)

or these

 

[Zenmonkey]

I trap my interlopers and cart them off to a nature spot. We are rural and for whatever reason (not very progressive) there is a "city" lake that is not at all tended to. Has a natural walking trail around it where I often take my dogs. I let the coons go there. That way they have a water source. I always look down on people who take the easy way out and say, "just shoot it." But someone has to be on that rung of the ladder I guess. Just not me.

There are already raccoons and other wildlife living there. You're playing those animals in ac position to fight for their territory, food, life. And then there's the risk of carrying disease along with those relocated animals.

Destroying an undesired predator is unpleasant to those of us who glory in creating more life, not less. But it is often the kindest possible outcome of a generation unpleasant situation, at least for the birds and the park animals that would otherwise be displaced.

 

[TOR]

They'll try to pull boards off too

yes they will, I keep my chickens in front of my over 100 year old barn. They got a board loose. Just enough to squeeze thru. Lost most my young stock about 20 birds last year. Put out leg hold traps and got 3 offenders. They got a taste of the chikens and they will keep coming back.

 

[McChooky]

yes they will, I keep my chickens in front of my over 100 year old barn. They got a board loose. Just enough to squeeze thru. Lost most my young stock about 20 birds last year. Put out leg hold traps and got 3 offenders. They got a taste of the chikens and they will keep coming back.

I can only imagine how devastating it was to lose so may! I'm so sorry!

 

[McChooky]

We had a family of possums take up residency a couple years ago but they left after I found the hole and sealed it (an old catio)

 

[KyCoop]

I dint know if its been said, another weak spot people forget about is nest box lid. I regularly see scratch marks and tiny hand prints on the side of it.
My is about 3 ft off the ground and the lid is very very heavy and secured with a latch and lock.