Predator lives here...PLEASE help us...

Dazlin · #1 09/01/10, 05:10 PM

A long story short... we lost several ducks , chickens and, guineas. We caught a huge racoon. After that Lost another chicken, and set a trap...nothing ...but we see racoon prints. I also spotted a raccoon on my property, but have not trapped it. Yesterday, my Lab barked up a storm, and my husband saw something run swiftly, but could'nt get it.
I'd appreciate any tips on what next to do! THANKS!

ladytoysdream · #2 09/01/10, 05:24 PM

My hubby spent some serious time at night out by the coop when we got hit by the varmits. Score was 2 hens lost, but 4 coons shot.
We followed up with a havaheart trap but did not catch anything with that.

RWBlue01 · #3 09/01/10, 05:46 PM

I am a big fan of game cameras for IDing unknown things that go bump in the night.

This will also give you a time frame to stay up too (or get up early) if you need to catch/kill the problem.

olivehill · #4 09/01/10, 05:46 PM

Lock the birds up at night in a secure coop, then it won't matter what kind of varmint are running around the place at night.

Danaus29 · #5 09/01/10, 08:07 PM

Locking them up at night doesn't prevent the smart ones that simply wait until you open the coop the next morning. We had a big blond raccoon that would wait in a doghouse in the pen. It took dh setting out at night for 2 weeks before we finally got her.

ETA: keep setting live traps. You can have as many as 20 raccoons around and not know it. Shoot them, don't take them for a ride and drop them on some other chicken owner.

John Carter · #6 09/01/10, 09:31 PM

set out side with a 22 and just be patient..............Kill em, if you value your chickens

suelandress · #7 09/01/10, 09:40 PM

I agree. And be constantly vigilent, cause after you get rid of the first round of problems, others will take their place.

Dazlin · #8 09/02/10, 08:30 AM

Thanks. we are keeping the trap set. This morning I lost a chick(just got sick) I put it in the trap along with some sardines.

Frenchy · #9 09/02/10, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danaus29

keep setting live traps. You can have as many as 20 raccoons around and not know it. Shoot them, don't take them for a ride.

this is a fact I have been shooting coons for the last 4 years here..... it seems like soon as I thin out one bunch another moves in ...... couple nights ago looked out an seen a coon under my baby guineas cage an stepped back for my gun looked back an was gone stepped out on porch an heard noise turned the light on attached to the end of my gun an there was a mama coon with 5 half grown young wandering around the yard ........ sad to say some of them got away

Frenchy · #10 09/02/10, 11:40 AM

this is what I use on my .22 they also have them for shotguns as well........sure helps when trying to find target in the dark an needing both hands free

http://shopping.mastergunparts.com/c...od&productId=3

Silvercreek Farmer · #11 09/02/10, 11:47 AM

Our electric coop has elimitated losses. I just built the base out of PVC conduit to insulate it and hooked the chicken wire to our electric fence. We even move it along from time to time to give the chickens fresh grass. Problem solved...

Danaus29 · #12 09/02/10, 11:51 AM

Frenchy, I got 35 in less than 3 years. Quit shooting them when I had to get rid of my ducks. I'll be trapping again in Dec. Pelts should be worth something and I've got an old coon hunter who will show me the ropes of selling pelts.

hugh · #13 09/02/10, 12:16 PM

preditors are a constant problem. After a fox dug under the fence during the day. I raized the fence to 8 ft then ran a hot wire around the outside. Then took a spare rooster and stood by the chicken house in the dark while he screamed and carried on. Then laid out a tasty treat that was picked up. 10 weeks and no problems. unfortunatly predators are alot like taxes there is always a new one around the next corner.

fishhead · #14 09/02/10, 02:05 PM

Beef up your coop security with electric fencing and then wait for the pelts to prime before you trap the coon. Then sell the pelts to pay for the security. I think coon prices are going to be up this year.

WstTxLady · #15 09/02/10, 04:28 PM

Check into one of those "nite guard solar" predator protection devices. Or motion sensor protection devices. Most hatchery/poultry websites have them. Coons are NEVER ending, you think you get rid of them all and more just replace them.

http://www.niteguard.com/

Delinda · #16 09/02/10, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WstTxLady

Check into one of those "nite guard solar" predator protection devices. Or motion sensor protection devices. Most hatchery/poultry websites have them. Coons are NEVER ending, you think you get rid of them all and more just replace them.

http://www.niteguard.com/

The nite guards work for me, I have used them for over a year now and have not had one predator attack. I have over 500 birds, i was loosing quite a few young pullets to raccoons, possums, and skunks. I caught alot in the live traps but I was still loosing birds until I put up the nite guards. The killing stopped instantly and has not started back. I will not be without them.

olivehill · #17 09/02/10, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danaus29

Locking them up at night doesn't prevent the smart ones that simply wait until you open the coop the next morning. We had a big blond raccoon that would wait in a doghouse in the pen. It took dh setting out at night for 2 weeks before we finally got her.

Well, I would hope any human would be smarter than even the "smart ones" in that if there's a coon -- or any predator -- out there in the light of day, SHOOT IT!

Quote:

ETA: keep setting live traps. You can have as many as 20 raccoons around and not know it. Shoot them, don't take them for a ride and drop them on some other chicken owner.

As many as 20? There was a summer a couple years ago where we couldn't set enough traps to catch the coons that would show up trying to break into our coop even in the course of one night. No faster could we shoot one and cart the body away to dispose of it and another would be right there taking its place. We killed more than 20 in one night. I *wish* there were only as many as 20.

My point being, you will never set enough traps to trap all the coons. The only surefire way to protect your birds is to lock them up securely. At night a coop is enough, if you have a serious problem with daytime predators then a predator proof run is also a good idea. Traps are great, but they don't eradicate the population of predators or guarantee the safety of your birds. They just reduce the predator population incrementally.

suelandress · #18 09/02/10, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delinda

The nite guards work for me, I have used them for over a year now and have not had one predator attack. I have over 500 birds, i was loosing quite a few young pullets to raccoons, possums, and skunks. I caught alot in the live traps but I was still loosing birds until I put up the nite guards. The killing stopped instantly and has not started back. I will not be without them.

Do they work in the winter, getting enough sun?

Delinda · #19 09/03/10, 06:44 AM

yes they do work in the winter time. They main thing about these is you must get enough to surround the coops, and you must put them at the correct highth-eye level with the predator you are trying to keep out.

Dazlin · #20 09/03/10, 10:50 AM

My coops are well secured. It's the day time I've lost all my birds and ducks. Broad daylight! I usually free range during the day, and everyone gets locked up at night.
I'm still keeping the trap set, but no luck yet. Something went in and ate a dead chick, but the door didn't close.
We are getting the night cam too, any day it should be coming.