Raccoon during the Daytime

[emelle116]

A giant raccoon was spotted in my yard in the middle of the day, very close to where my chickens usually hang out! I think the raccoon eats the cat food my neighbor leaves out. At night the chickens are kept in a coop that I believe is raccoon-proof, but I'm worried that they are at risk during the day.

Is a well-fed raccoon likely to attack my chickens during the day? What can I do to deter raccoons from being in my yard? I've read that ammonia helps keep them out of the trash, but not sure if that would be safe for the chickens, or if it would work on a larger scale in the yard.

Thank you!

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! Raccoons may not be able to catch chickens during the day, but they would certainly try. Can you talk to your neighbor about this? Raccoon poo is dangerous, because of the roundworm species they have, and especially in some areas, they possibly have rabies.
If necessary, live trap and shoot on your property. I want local raccoons to be afraid of humans, and hide out during the day. Having one or more wandering around close to me isn't a good thing.
Mary

 

[Howard E]

Here is a thought most folks may not have considered......while raccoons are normally nocturnal, this time of year, if you live far enough north, there are not that many hours of darkness for them to operate in. Coons need sleep, but not 18 hours worth. They may be forced to be out and about during daylight hours. Even the healthy ones.

Chickens sleeping on a roost have no chance against a pack of coons at night, but would stand a better chance escaping an attack during the day, but I'd guess they would still be at risk, especially those free ranging around heavy cover.

 

[Chickassan]

Raccoons suck at daytime hunting firstly your chickens are much faster.
Ammonia does nothing.
Hot pepper flakes, juice, anything hot and spicy help they don't like a hot mouth.
Don't use a BB gun to deter unless you can get to saftey, they're known to charge.
Best course of action, trap or have someone trap and dispatch.
Once it finds food it will come back and unless it is male the chances it will bring more raccoons is high.

 

[cheekychick3]

Wow, how daring is he, and he is huge. As others have said, can"t you speak
to your neighbor, about leaving food out, for their cat. Hope you sort it soon, as
once there is no cat food left, he will then aim for your chickens.

 

[Henriettamom919]

You've had great advice already but as I was (get your pitchfork ready and know this was BC thinking- before chickens) once feeding a raccoon on purpose. She was a young mum learning to be three legged; she still had said leg but couldn't bear weight on it and as we had no chickens then I supplemented her diet with dog chow.

The problem aside from the above mentioned is even if your current resident raccoon is fat and fed it *will* attract new, less friendly brethren. Use every deterrent you can Google and then trap to kill. I know this sounds awful but a hungry, desperate raccoon is a devilishly clever thing and WILL eventually hunt whatever presents itself

Incidentally, if possible, definitely speak with your neighbor because once the food supply vanished, so did my raccoons (lazy and hungry alike). Otherwise you'll start waking up to this (this was my mud porch):