Raccoon deterents

[kisat]

Hey there,

My mom and I are in the process of building a chicken coop to house 3 chickens (Rhode Island Red's) that we are adopting around the beginning of May to keep them from being slaughtered. Within the past year, because of so much construction, we have had a ton of racoons entering our neighborhood. I live in your typical suburban type neighborhood, but lately the raccoons just don't care. People around here have plenty of dogs, cats, you name it, and the coons still come.

I was looking around the internet just now and I am trying to find some good homemade remedies to keep, or at least deter, the raccoons.

We are definitely going to be having a roof, plenty of wire houseing, and all the other precautions, but I would also like to deter the coons as much as possible from our yard, not just to protect our 3 chickens, but I have a pom mix and an Aussie dog that go out at night to use the bathroom in our backyard, and I am tired of seeing a treed racoon on our back porch

.

I heard that a cayenne pepper paste (cayenne pepper and water mixed together) works well so I was just curious if anyone has tried that? What other remedies have you all tried and what might work best? We have neighbors surrounding us and I don't see leaving a bright light facing the chicken pen to make the neighbors too happy at night

Which is what the organization said to try. Same with their radio being on suggestion.

Thanks so much,
Kim

 

[pegbo]

I haven't had any problems with coons here in NY, but that's not saying they won't be around at some point. I think I'd go with cayenne pepper, moth balls maybe[not where chicks can get at them] good fencing, maybe electric fencing. That's suppose to work good. I'd try anything that you don't think coons would like! Good Luck!

 

[CranberryBirds]

My 'deterrant' is probably not available to you: a have-a-heart trap, a can of bacon grease for bait, a 22 rifle and a shovel. My neighbor and I did a pre-chicken raccoon crack-down and trapped 20 (yes, TWENTY) in one month.

I live in the country, though, with just this one neighbor and everyone around here is used to the shooting.

If the raccoons have lost their fear of humans and domesticated animals, IMO the only deterrant is death.

That said, there are preventative measures you can take, such as not leaving any type of animal food outside at night, keeping the garbage very secure when it is out at the curb, and having your chickens housed in a solid structure at night. Raccoons can and will reach through wire and pull chickens out one piece at a time.

Good luck.

 

[chicknmania]

We (knock on wood) have never had a raccoon visit our barn, but we've had plenty of possums and skunks. Nothing works for skunks, but you might try leaving a radio on low near the barn or in the coop, it that's possible without disburbing the neighbors. We would leave it on for a night or two, then turn if off for a few nights, then back on...seemed to work to keep the possums away.

 

[Heidi]

Don't raccoons and possums come out at night to feed? I have almost 5 week old chicks that will be going out into their big yard which is surrounded with a medium size fencing. I thought they would be o.k. because I would lock them up at night, but if raccoons come out during the day I'm in big trouble and will have to now go back over my fence with chicken wire. I know we have raccoons because I see there tracks in the snow on my deck where the birdfeeder is.

 

[kisat]

Thank you all so much for the information. I guess it will be more of a trying all approaches and see what will work best.
Kim

 

[slystr]

I am worried about coons & possums too. tonight DH & I have peed all around the perimeter of the coop in an attempt to repel the buggers. I hope it works. this is my babies first night out.

 

[xrayman]

Quote:
If you see coons out during the day, SHOOT THEM, they probably have distemper or something else they're sick. Coons are nocturnal.

 

[ivan3]

Coons are, by nature, nocturnal. However, the raccoon is nothing if not adaptable. Granted, I've only retired two during daylight hours over the past ten years (average 30 a year), but both were fat and sassy and, quite possibly, setting their schedules to the humans who'd been feeding them...

In town, both `possum and coon are observed here and there at all hours. Do not assume that raccoons will keep to any schedule that doesn't fill their stomachs.

Here's a local news item from a few years ago that I'm posting to illustrate the predator load in town (not as commentary on frat rats rustling the marsupial variety). I'm sure that if live raccoons were as accomodating with capture, by half-lit english majors, as were the opossums, there would have probably been twenty of the snarling opportunists in the barrel as well. I'm guessing the captures and roadkill collections didn't occur at night, otherwise the downtown bars would empty at 11 P.M. ... (Hemingways on safari in the darkest deciduous jungle? Never happen).

http://archive.columbiatribune.com/2005/feb/20050214news004.asp

 

[Jewlie814]

I apparently have a family of 5 raccoons unde my home. I just heard that if you cut bars of soap but it has to be Irish.....ohhhh I can't remember the rest of the name but it is that bath soap bars that start with Irish. Cut it in to quarters and throw it under the house it will keep them away. I plan on doing it tomorrow as I don't have any on hand. I will let you know if it works.
Julie