How often do raccoons attack during the day?

[gophert]

I KNOW we have a resident coon. We see him/her at night occasionally and it can sometimes be spotted sleeping in a tree in the woods behind our house.

I don't have concerns about my chickens' security at night, but I do let them freerange during the day between the hours of 9 and 5, or thereabouts. Having read that dawn and dusk are prime predation hours, I don't have them out then. I am usually home and our smallish yard does have a lot of human activity most days (kids and I are out there a LOT), not that that probably matters much. Should I be concerned about the coon taking a bird during the day?

 

[Imp]

Yes, I lost 2 to raccoons this summer. During the day.

Imp

 

[ChickiKat]

I thought that coons were nocturnal and if you saw them out during the day they were probably sick.

 

[gophert]

Imp, what time of day?

FTR, I would be willing to live trap but will not shoot it (don't have a gun and live in suburbia--not gonna happen). I am skeptical about live trap and release, though, having read so many times that they just find their way back. Kinda hate the idea of killing it just because it is a coon that lives in the woods.

 

[Chicky-dees]

I don't like coons anymore - used to love ALL critters, but when they pulled the feet off my geese THROUGH their pen and left me with the job of having to destroy goslings that sat there and cried and couldn't walk, my relationship with coons ended. Ugly story, ugly sight. Anyway, so here's my 2 cents from someone who is fed up with coons - !!

I have lived in the country for a LONG time and never had a problem with coons as soon as the sun came up and not before the sun went down. They do come out as soon as it is dark - and they don't mind trying to spend HOURS breaking into the chicken coop, rabbit pen, etc. You can chase them off, but they will be back as soon as you turn your back.

I have never seen coons hunt during the day, except one that had distemper and we put it out of OUR misery (not just his) and burned his carcass. I would say chickens are safe during the day (mine roam free all day, go in at dusk on their own and I lock them in) and have never had problems with coons (but yes to dogs and hawks).

My only other thought, if the booger looks healthy, is that he has become somewhat domesticated and has gotten used to the routine of people and has adjusted his lifestyle to such. I would say you remove him in some form or fashion before he does get the birds. Don't forget that coons and dogs share and can spread the same diseases - he is a threat to your household in many ways.

 

[Thespoiledchicken]

They frequently come out during the day when they are nursing little ones, spring time you will see them alot. I relocated

about 10 raccoons so far after finding one chasing my girls mid day. I figure that if there are none living REALLY close than I may be slightly safer during the day. They travel really far @ night so you will never be safe from a night attack.

Good Luck!

Trish

 

[peepblessed]

We used to relocate then realized we were giving someone else our problem. I used to love them til I saw their evil side. They don't come any worse....

 

[bobbi-j]

Quote:
If you're not going to kill it, don't bother trapping it. "Relocating" it can potentially spread disease like rabies or distemper, and you'd be dumping your problem on someone else. (Please don't say "I'd drive it way out in the country and let it loose." I live "way out in the country" and don't want your chicken-killing, trapwise coon out here.) And you've already addressed the fact that it could likely find its way back to you. So, it seems your only option is to live with it and deal with the losses if it starts eating your chickens. I think once it gets started on them, it will come back until they're gone or you keep them locked up all day so it can't get at them.

 

[mrpekinduck]

SSS it then it can NEVER come back.

 

[Ole rooster]

To answer you thread topic, around here, once. Morgan's, my dog, is out with me all day. If vet bills ensue, so be it. All I have to do is catch up to it. Once.