July 29, 2005
Not so happy a night at the chicken coop
After one of the long days spent at the boat workshop, we heard a commotion at the chicken coop housing the older hens just as we were going to bed. By the time we got out there whatever was bothering the hens had left but the girls were still pretty upset. The next morning we counted the hens and found that there were two missing and there were feathers scattered around outside the coop. We suspected a racoon since I had seen one around at night, and the opening that the culprit went through was a loose spot in the chicken wire under the peak of the roof.
We tightened up the wire and hung a light on the coop, and that evening waited to hear if the chickens would sound the alarm. The animal came back, but couldn't get into the older hens' coop. By the time Ben and I got out of the house, we heard noise in the young hens' coop. I shone the flashlight inside and the racoon was still there.
It had already killed two of the hens we had started this spring. So, unfortunately, Ben had to shoot the racoon to keep it from doing any more damage. The racoon had entered the coop after prying up the screen stapled over one of the windows.
I didn't know racoons would do this kind of thing. It reemphasied what wildlife professionals are always saying, that wild animals are not cuddly,cute pets, and that they are dangerous and could hurt you so give them their space. We have lost poultry to foxes and skunks, and now I know that racoons are capable of doing the same thing, too. Noah was pretty shook up, but was glad that his rooster, Rooster Cogburn Noah, was okay.
--Jonathan, Howmars Farm
Franklin, Vermont
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Posted by Blogger Chris at July 29, 2005 09:20 AM
There is a safe trap that you can use it's very humane but you have to drown the animals after they've been caught because if there is any hint of blood smell no other animal will be caught in it ever again. They come in different sizes, all it does is trap the animal in the cage, so that it can't get out. You have to stake the cage to the ground because if the coon can roll the cage it can get out of it. My grandfather used one all the time to catch coons. The only name I know to call it is Safe Trap.
Wow, I also had no idea that raccoons would do this. To be honest, I didn't know skunks would kill a chicken either.
Is there a humane trap to use to keep raccoons away from your chickens? Deterrent type of liquid to use? I was just wondering. Like you said it is hard to kill a wild animal but you want to protect your farm animals too.
Frankly, I think it's ok to shoot that raccoon! I know it's not something I would prefer to have to do, and I'm sure you all didn't *like* shooting the raccoon. We have a small urban flock and were warned by everyone we know to make sure our coop is raccoon proof. One of the coops is built on a cement pad (to prevent any burrowing in) and the other is built with 2 X 4s and 4 X 4s. We have heard numerous stories about how raccoons can decimate a flock quickly, even with a rooster in the flock.
Hi, Glad Noah's rooster is okay. From my experience, racoons can do a lot of damage.
When my parents had our chicken farm back in the early 60's, 2200 of them. Racoons came in and messed around with the automatic waters and flooded the floor in the coops. Killed several chickens. My Father shot her, she weighed 25 lbs. she had babies somewhere. That's why you really don't want to mess with wild animals. very unpredictable.
Jonathan Gates reports from Howmars Farm in Franklin, Vermont.