Raccoons are well known for getting into chicken coops and killing chickens. They do not kill chickens for sport, they do it because they are hungry. Many times a mother raccoon will use a chicken coop to train her babies to hunt, starting with easy prey. The best way to keep raccoons away from your coop is to get rid of things that attract them.
- Don't leave dog food, cat food, or any feed outdoors where raccoons can access it.
- Make sure no eggs are left in the coop over night.
- Keep your coop, nest boxes, and run clean.
- Clean up any trash piles.
- Don't put wood piles by your chicken coop.
- Eliminate places where they can hide.
- Put secure padlocks on your coop. Raccoons are experts at figuring out turn locks, door knobs, and slide bolts.
- Get inside your coop if possible and check for holes, loose boards, and weak spots and repair them.
Raccoon Photo by Alex Makarov on Unsplash
Raccoon's sometimes make their homes under hen houses and seem to get along quite will until they have baby raccoon's then the mothers tend to be fierce and protective of their young-just as most bird and animal mothers are. During this time a mother raccoon will kill anything she deems a threat to her young, including your chickens! According to Raccoon's Wildlife conflicts information website raccoon's have favorite places they like to nest or live in.
Raccoon's favorite places to live are in:
Raccoons are unique in their appearance as they have a black mask around their eyes, which clearly distinguishes them from other animals, paws that work like hands, and a long fluffy tail. Rogue raccoons can be very messy, troublesome, and even dangerous to chickens and people.
Learn their Habits
One way to get rid of raccoons is to learn about their natural instincts, and habits. If you raise chickens, you will most likely run into a raccoon or a whole family of them in the fall or spring when they will be looking for food to eat and a place to have and keep their young (a den) for the winter.
Where raccoon's live
Raccoon's have specific areas that they prefer to live in and often choose to live under or somewhere close to chicken coops as they know there is a steady food and water supply for them and their young.
Scroll down to find out how to protect your chickens from raccoon's
Raccoon's favorite places to live are in:
- Hollow trees
- Logs
- Rocky crevices
- Abandoned animal burrows
- Under hen houses
Raccoons are unique in their appearance as they have a black mask around their eyes, which clearly distinguishes them from other animals, paws that work like hands, and a long fluffy tail. Rogue raccoons can be very messy, troublesome, and even dangerous to chickens and people.
Learn their Habits
One way to get rid of raccoons is to learn about their natural instincts, and habits. If you raise chickens, you will most likely run into a raccoon or a whole family of them in the fall or spring when they will be looking for food to eat and a place to have and keep their young (a den) for the winter.
Where raccoon's live
Raccoon's have specific areas that they prefer to live in and often choose to live under or somewhere close to chicken coops as they know there is a steady food and water supply for them and their young.
Scroll down to find out how to protect your chickens from raccoon's
Home Remedies to Deter Raccoons
Easy home remedies such as freezing organic waste to reduce the smell that attracts them or using dish soap, castor oil, and water mixed with equal parts. Cayenne pepper can be strategically placed at night to deter them (be careful that your chickens do not have access to the pepper). Lights and noise can also keep raccoons away. Scroll down to see more ways to keep raccoons away from your chickens.
More Ways To protect your chickens from raccoons
Scare X Balloon at Chicken Heaven On Earth. Comes in a pack of 3.
Wild raccoon's are dangerous for your chickens, not only do they make huge messes and often carry rabies but they have been known to attack and kill chickens. I use a combination of the following methods to protect my chickens from raccoons and so far it has been working very well for many years.
Put secure locks on chicken coop doors. Cover windows and screens with heavy mesh.
Keep feed put up, do not leave pet food out. Put trash in secure containers.
Use Predator Lights.
Use Scare crows with bird scare tape on them.
Use Bird X Repeller. I use the Bird X Repeller and Scare X balloons in combination with previous mentioned methods but so far Bird X repeller and Scare X balloons, work the best. Since, I have installed them, I have had no skunks, snakes, raccoons, or coyotes. Hawks avoid my property but screech in protest when they get in range of this device. The Scare X balloons seem to be working as well. I had a skunk kept getting into this chicken coop. I also have raccoons trying to get into three coops that are out of range of the Bird X repeller so I use the Scare X balloons by these cages and so far it's working! The only cage the coon goes by is the one that doesn't have a balloon an is out of range of the Bird X Ultrason. (I will be getting another one and more balloons soon).
Put secure locks on chicken coop doors. Cover windows and screens with heavy mesh.
Keep feed put up, do not leave pet food out. Put trash in secure containers.
Use Predator Lights.
Use Scare crows with bird scare tape on them.
Use Bird X Repeller. I use the Bird X Repeller and Scare X balloons in combination with previous mentioned methods but so far Bird X repeller and Scare X balloons, work the best. Since, I have installed them, I have had no skunks, snakes, raccoons, or coyotes. Hawks avoid my property but screech in protest when they get in range of this device. The Scare X balloons seem to be working as well. I had a skunk kept getting into this chicken coop. I also have raccoons trying to get into three coops that are out of range of the Bird X repeller so I use the Scare X balloons by these cages and so far it's working! The only cage the coon goes by is the one that doesn't have a balloon an is out of range of the Bird X Ultrason. (I will be getting another one and more balloons soon).
References:
1. Raccoons. retrieved 10/31/2013. Wildlife conflicts. Purdue.edu http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/entm/wildlifehotline/pages/raccoons.aspx
2. Raccoon, foliage, nature and animal HD photo by Erwan Hesry (@erwanhesry) on Unsplash. (2018). Unsplash.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018, from https://unsplash.com/photos/f2Tf9uF1MeQ
3. Raccoon baby photo by Alex Makarov (@alex_makarov) on Unsplash. (2018). Unsplash.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018, from https://unsplash.com/photos/dngNIgCHoc8
1. Raccoons. retrieved 10/31/2013. Wildlife conflicts. Purdue.edu http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/entm/wildlifehotline/pages/raccoons.aspx
2. Raccoon, foliage, nature and animal HD photo by Erwan Hesry (@erwanhesry) on Unsplash. (2018). Unsplash.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018, from https://unsplash.com/photos/f2Tf9uF1MeQ
3. Raccoon baby photo by Alex Makarov (@alex_makarov) on Unsplash. (2018). Unsplash.com. Retrieved 22 September 2018, from https://unsplash.com/photos/dngNIgCHoc8
