Racoon killing chickens

[ilovemychickens2000]

This morning one of our hens was dead , mauled by a racoon. It killed the summer before. Do we catch and kill it or is that inhumane? if it is how do we stop it? If we do catch it and kill it, how do we catch it?im new to chickens, sorry.

 

[TesoroSena]

Catch it and kill it. It is a danger to your flock, and it might come back if you release it. Buy a trap from tsc or a co-op and bait it with a strong smelling food, chicken legs, pineapple, tuna, marshmallows have all worked for me. Put it somewhere the raccoon has been, not where your chickens can go, wait until it traps the animal, then shoot it and dispose of it. It sounds inhumane but it is necessary to keep birds safe sometimes.

 

[horror_trashcan]

There will always be more raccoons. My parents spent a summer trapping and killing around 10-15 raccoons, relocating the babies and they still ended up killing their whole flock.
You haven't mentioned where the raccoon killed from but in my opinion you should try and fortify your coop instead if its getting inside.
If you're going to kill the raccoon at least make use of it, it is just an animal trying to survive.

 

[bryan99705]

This morning one of our hens was dead , mauled by a racoon. It killed the summer before. Do we catch and kill it or is that inhumane? if it is how do we stop it? If we do catch it and kill it, how do we catch it?im new to chickens, sorry.

Moist cat food and fruit is more things coons live. Also have had good success using honey buns with chocolate syrup

 

[123RedBeard]

I prefer to use a "dog-proof" trap ... It's primarily for raccoons ... Although on very rare occasions a opossum might get its paw inside, but if you only get a "pull type" not the "push/pull" you're most likely to only get raccoons ... And not waste time on the neighbors (or yours!) cats and dogs!

Mine like brats, and hamburger the best ...

I have both the Bridger and Duke ... https://fntpost.com/category/dog-proof-coon-traps