I have declared WAR.

[StarTech]

I lost at 12 chickens to Coons. I now have taken out 3 of them and waiting for more. My chicken were so scared that just one night in a new place they gladly took it up. Normally it take over a week to get them change their roosting place.

So the tally is
12 chickens
3 Raccoons (and counting)

First live trap (old trap) was basically destroyed by the second coon. So got two more new traps but they just keeping tripping them. The last live animal traps are too sensitive so I desensitized them this morning.

But I went and got a steel trap yesterday, the $10 Steel trap got one last night. But I got to get a curly Q stake as the one last pulled the 12" bolt over halfway out of the ground.

As I said have declared WAR on these coons. They started it but I will finish it.

 

[Craftsman Garage]

In the past year, I've lost 2 chickens. One to a hawk and one to a possum. What nasty little things. I had to install a trap door on my coop. I open it in the morning and close it at night. No deaths since.

 

[StarTech]

IF your coup doesn't a floor I highly recommend install a heavy wire bottom and partially up the walls. I referring something like a 1 x 1 welded wire mesh of tighter. I had to do that to previous coup and it saved my flock several times. The second night after I wired that coup a fox tunneled under the coup. He got trapped when his caved in and he didn't survive the .22 lead poisoning the next morning.

Having an entrance door the can be closed is good as even owls enter if not closed up. I had that problem too. Yes I have gone over board on securing the coup at times.

So far this one was safe for the last ten years after mink attack that took 22 chickens in two attacks about 10 years ago..He also died of .22 lead poisoning. Vicious little breast. It just recently the coons struck. This is my second go around with coons. The last time it was only two and they were relocated 25 miles away at the city dump.

It is looking like I going need build a new large coup for my flock with all the security method I have learned over the years.

Daytime attacks are just as hard to defend against but that's what the 12 ga is for with "T" shot. Luckily they are a lot less than nighttime attacks.

 

[Craftsman Garage]

I do have a Floor, the coop is a little bit off the ground. The hawk snatched the chicken when they were roaming free and the possum got one during night by going through the chicken door of the coop.

 

[StarTech]

That is one of the problem free ranging as is vehicles.

As coup door you may need to add a strip along the bottom to keep them getting a hold of the door bottom if it is a sliding down door. Darn coons will lift the door up to get in but they got get a hold on it first. That extra lip keeps the paws off the bottom edge. I had that door on a pulley system so I could let the crew out in the five sided pen. Four sides and a top.

Here the coons first dug under the barn back side. I set up traps there. Then they start climbing the wall and going between the rafters. I spent six hours Saturday blocking off those rafters areas. Then last night after tripping both live animal traps, tried to dig in at the entrance. He apparently gave up and took going after the bait. That when he step on the steel trap. By the time I got up this morning at crack of dawn he had manage to pull the securing stake halfway out of the ground.