Safe from raccoons in daylight?

[dtress]

There has been a raccoon trying hard but unsuccessfully to enter our coop. During the day I let my chickens out in an enclosed 10x10' space that is not predator safe. Should I worry about a raccoon trying to get them in daylight? We live in a suburban area but clearly this mamma is desperate for some food! So far in 3 months there have been no predator attempts, but I'm sure Spring brings on new predator determination.

Any ways to deter the night time damage the raccoon is causing to the yard around my coop perimeter? If I sprinkle Cayenne pepper, could that hurt my chickens if they sniffed some up themselves? Any other thoughts? I read human pee works??? Really? My son would love that job.

Thanks for your advice!

 

[Nicole01]

If you see a raccoon or skunk in the daylight, RUN! It's most likely rabid!

Raccoons are night creatures. I've had a skunk spray my chicken run last year. Our coop is well secured in our garage.

Daytime predators are hawks, eagles, dogs and owls.

 

[Kevin565]

If you see a raccoon or skunk in the daylight, RUN! It's most likely rabid!
Raccoons are night creatures

X2

 

[MamaRoo]

If you see a raccoon or skunk in the daylight, RUN! It's most likely rabid!

I disagree. Urban raccoons adopt different habits than wild raccoons. I have had them come into my yard and chase my chickens during the day, so I keep an eye on the girls when they're outside.

 

[Suzierd]

Raccoons will sometimes hunt during the day especially nursing mothers. If it's a rabid coon it will look sick.

 

[darin367]

get a trap set asap...... that coon will test,push,pull,pry,rip tear etc etc until it finds a way into your coop..... 1 day you'll wake up to a dead flock........ i know from experience, they will not give up.... trap em n kill em.... sorry to be so blunt, but it's devastating what a coon will do.........

 

[silkiechicken]

Trap it and dispatch it. Urban city coons aren't like the coon of the wild. They will come out mostly at night, but you'll see them around sunrise and before sunset regularly. They have no fear of humans, will open your trash cans while you stand there and watch, or even charge you if they have been able to scare other humans away before... and mothers feeding their baibes will come out mid day to raid dog/cat food dishes if left out. Some city coons learn to use cat/dog doors to get into peoples houses. What ever you do, do NOT let it go after trapping it. It will be near impossible to trap again, will likly come back if left alive, can spread disease and become someone elses problem if you let it go. In an urban area, a high powered air rifle shot between the ears or into the ear, please study a skull of a coon first, will take it out in one shot. Just place it right and have a high powered air rifle, no pump action bb's, but pellets.

 

[Mattemma]

I have seen possums during the day.Only saw coons at dusk.It is however possible.Momma's have babies to feed.

 

[Imp]

I regularly see raccoons (& possums) during the day.
They are not just nocturnal. They are opportunistic.

Imp

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

I have been having problems with a raccoon breaking up the goose nest, now the ducks nest. I got a have a heart trap but it is not catching it. Other morning I went to check the trap before I go to the gym, so it was about 5:15 and there was a raccoon in the goose nest. I thought by then they should be gone... Later in the day I couldn't find the egg it had taken out of the nest and cracked. Do you guess it came back after I left, which is around 6.