I have declared WAR.

RayMcD

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2021
Threads
47
Messages
280
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.
Chain trap to full size cement block, you can move it around easily, but the largest coon will be out done by it, r
 

StarTech

Lawn Royalty
Top Poster Of Month
Joined
Feb 19, 2020
Threads
91
Messages
11,397
I am at a crease fire level right now on the coons part. Apparently I got the ring leader which was a large male. I estimate he weigh close to 20lbs. Still being visited but they are just hunting new ways in but they haven't found any in the last week.

Strange the vultures and possums wont touch them. Normally they eat about everything.
 

Scrubcadet10

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Sep 24, 2017
Threads
265
Messages
6,627
I am at a crease fire level right now on the coons part. Apparently I got the ring leader which was a large male. I estimate he weigh close to 20lbs. Still being visited but they are just hunting new ways in but they haven't found any in the last week.

Strange the vultures and possums wont touch them. Normally they eat about everything.
yeah ive never seen a buzzard around any of the coons i've tossed in the woods. Sometimes the whole body will just disappear overnight and sometimes they just decompose.
 

Oddjob

Active Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2020
Threads
9
Messages
87
I had raccoons raiding my squirrel-proof bird feeder on my back deck. They figured out how to open the metal latch on the lid and eat ALL the sunflower seeds. So I wired the lid shut. They took the feeder off the hook and dropped it on the ground about 20 feet down. They turned the feeder upside down, emptying it, and they again ate all the seed. So I secured the feeder to the hook so it could not be removed. They then shook the feeder, like a salt shaker, and emptied the feeder again. So I dosed the seed with hot sauce. In a few days they learned to like hot sauce. So I rigged a popper from a party store to the lid, the kind where you pull a string and it explodes and streamers and confetti comes out. I put it on the bottom of the feeder with a long enough lead so the raccoon would have his face fully inside the feeder when it went off. Then we all gathered in the living room with the lights off and were well rewarded when a big old coon got the fright of his life, as did his family on my deck. They all ran and the big one had streamers on him. We laughed and laughed. Thirty minutes later they were all back. They had trained me. Made sure the feeder was empty or near empty before sunset.

They are a worthy opponent. Hope the cease fire holds, but so long as the neighbor has the cafeteria open, expect to see future generations come to test your ramparts.
 

StarTech

Lawn Royalty
Top Poster Of Month
Joined
Feb 19, 2020
Threads
91
Messages
11,397
Yes it is a battle of wits. And I am learning their tricks and quickly putting up roadblocks as they try new things. Re-enforcements is key to beating them. Right now they really have to work at it to get any more of my flock. Meanwhile are going to get pretty hungry if they don't leave which may just be the key in getting more of them. Buying a pack of chicken today just for them which will be just out of reach.
 

Gym123

Active Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2024
Threads
3
Messages
99
Raccoons eat cat food- maybe put out plenty of it with water between their entry points and the Chickens.
 

StarTech

Lawn Royalty
Top Poster Of Month
Joined
Feb 19, 2020
Threads
91
Messages
11,397
They turned it down for the chickens.

Sorry but this is not a catch and release alive battle any more; although, I will relocated them out in the soybean field where they become fertilizer since the buzzards won't even touch them. They intended to wipe out my whole flock so I am returning the favor.

Relocating them alive just moves the problem to somewhere else.
 
Top