Raccoons are after my chickens....

[Tammy]

Can anyone recommend a trap....preferably one I can get online.

These raccoons....aren't the least bit afraid of me either, LOL!

Tammy

[Mrs. H.]

You can find some wire box traps, the kind that the animal goes in, steps on a plate that springs the trap, and gets caught. We bait ours with cat food and have had great success. One word of caution though: tie a long rope to the trap BEFORE you set it, because after you catch a racoon in it, you won't be able to get your hands anywhere near it to carry it off. Racoons are mean critters, and they aren't afraid of humans at all. We finally got a dog, and that helped tremendously with our racoon problem. Dh said that raccoons won't even come around if they smell a dog.

[HomeOnTheRanch]

Call your local authorities, such as Fish & Game. In some areas it is illegal to trap/kill them without a permit. Since they are after your chickens, they may come and trap/relocate it for you or tell you what is the best way of handling it.

[Tammy]

I called Animal Control...and they told me to go buy a trap...so they are no help!

[HeatherH]

so sorry, no help here.

We have a red-tailed hawk who has discovered our hens. He sits on a post and watches them every day! We live in somewhat of "suburbia", so the chickens are never out unattended, but oh, I dread the day when Mr. Hawk gets his first meal.

Chickens - gotta love 'em!

[Mad Charity]

Tractor supply has traps. You only need one and you will need to use it every night for a while to wipe the little critters out. It is a messy business. I suggest relocation, though.

[Tammy]

I have hawks...and I think the only reason they don't mess with my chickens....is because there is a huge selection of baby ducks around here, LOL!

[Margaret in CO]

Relocation is a waste of time--they'll beat you home! Plus, all you've done is add to someone else's problem. A shotgun works quite nicely! Remember, coons can carry rabies...

[Mad Charity]

Relocation is a waste of time--they'll beat you home! Plus, all you've done is add to someone else's problem. A shotgun works quite nicely! Remember, coons can carry rabies...

Yeah, I know it's more effective. It is just so hard to do! :( This is probably why I don't ever need any more chickens, ever. Someone very near and dear to me uses a small handgun and a shovel to bury. He seems to have to use this method in streaks and then can put the trap away for a few months. Very effective.

[Amy in MD]

We ended up covering the top of their yard with deer netting and times used chicken wiring and made sure no holes were around the perimter of the fence. At night, I would close the little chicken door and the entry door and they were locked in tight. The deer netting on top deterred the hawks too.

I am living somewhere I can't have chickens now- I miss my back yard chickens and fresh eggs. Buff Orpington chickens were our favorite!

Good luck,
Amy

[Adrianne]

My hubby puts cat food in a havahart trap. Link:

http://www.havahart.com/nuisance/raccoon/raccoon_cage_traps.asp

Once caught he shoots them. Relocation will not work (at least for us it does not). Again local hunting laws apply. In PA, it is always open season on raccoons especially if they are after your chickens.

Good luck!

Adrianne

[HomeOnTheRanch]

Well, if animal control said to trap them, then go ahead. I just remembered something else that worked for us...

DH ran the electric fence around the opening going into the henhouse. In our case, the raccoon was more interested in eggs than chickens. After getting shocked once or twice, the coons went elsewhere. Of course we had a few jittery chickens who accidentally touched the hotwire also, but eggs quit disappearing.

[Tammy]

Animal Control told me to bring them back to them...and they will put them to sleep....they said the same thing about the rabies....and they would rather get rid of them....than move them.

[Mamagistra]

Our most effective bait has been sardines. Bury the open can under the trap, near the back. :) Having several dogs has never deterred a coon 'round here...