Raccoonsare found throughout the United States and dwell in every scope , from rural farmland and woods to suburban arena , include New York City . Nicknamed the “ superpredator , ” these mask creatures will do just about anything to get a meal , include scale the tallest fence , unlatching and openingcoop door , and eating resting poultry through Gallus gallus telegram .
Protecting our batch from becoming victim of predator attack should be one of the domestic fowl owner ’s braggart precedence . But how do you keep your deal from falling quarry to your neighborhood raccoons ?
Predator Proofing
The best way to preventraccoonsfrom attacking your flock is by predator - proofread your coop and run . racoon are highly sound , take care to cover any scuttle large than 1/2 inch .
When protecting your flock from raccoon , no measure is too extreme . So , countenance ’s get started predator - proofing !
Climbing
Like children , racoon love to climb up , and they will utilize their human - like hands to descale any fencing or tree . raccoon are n’t scared of heights and will scale the highest fences for their repast . Covering the top of your ravel with 1/2 - inch , 16 - calibre PVC lumbering wire will keep raccoon from realize access to the run through the roof .
Another means to forbid racoon from turning your run into their vacation spot is by locking your bird in a coop or barn every day before twilight . If predators ca n’t see the poultry , they are less likely to seek to gain ground approach to the run . Even if poultry are locked in an enclosure at night , tending should be taken to brood the top of the test with PVC - coated 1/2 - inch , 16 - gauge hardware cloth to protect the flock from daytime and nocturnal piranha .
Hardware Cloth
raccoon are excellent at chewing and biting through chicken wire , tearing a big enough mess to press through , and gaining access to the coop and trial . Another downside to chicken wire is that the 1 - in kettle of fish is big enough for a raccoon to reach their manus through , grab resting chicken and use up them through the fence .
treat runs and any spread larger than 1/2 an inch with PVC - coated 1/2 - in , 16 - caliber ironware cloth is the salutary way to prevent raccoons from chewing and biting the wire or grab unsuspecting hens . Also , cross any windowpane or screen with 1/2 - inch hardware fabric to preclude raccoon from rip screens to gain accession to the coop or barn .
Cement Floors
While raccoons are less skilled at digging than they are with climbing and chewing , they can still gain access to the coop or run by digging underneath the perimeter . Building a social structure with a cement floor or purchasing a cement slab to rest your coop on is one of the best ways to protect your great deal .
With a sturdy cementum floor , there is no demand to worry about predators digging or chewing through the floor to gain access code to your flock . Even though many fowl keepers prefer more price - efficient Grant Wood flooring , the peace of mind with a cementum floor is deserving every penny .
Predator Skirts
attach PVC - coated 3/4 - column inch 16 - gauge ironware cloth to the bottom outside border of your coop and run will prevent digging predators from accessing your flock . These predator wench are one of the well way of life to keep raccoons out and your flock dependable .
Lock the Doors
Unlike any other predatory animal , raccoons are so intelligent they can unlock and overt chicken coop and barn doors . Many domestic fowl owners prefer to use something different than bolt and hook - and - oculus lock , as raccoon can well open up these fasteners . Using padlock to secure all doors , including pop pickle and nest boxes , is the only means to prevent raccoons from reach the henhouse through a door .
Goodbye Raccoons!
Even though raccoons are one of the biggest threats to backyard muckle , extreme measure to eradicate them from your backyard are not commonly necessary . However , some deterrent can avail deter them from visiting your backyard .
Raccoons dislike wind chimes , so hanging some around or near your coop and run is one of the best way to deter raccoons from visiting your coop and run .
give birth your dog tag along with you as you do chore is another path to discourage raccoon . If a racoon smell that a dog frequents the sphere , they are less likely to visit .
distribute predator piss around the perimeter of the coop or run can prevent raccoons from wanting to inhabit the area .
Avoiding Common Mistakes
regrettably , many chickens fall fair game to marauder attacks due to several common chicken - keeping praxis , including :
A raccoon attack can happen during daytime or at night , so always be on your guard duty . protect your slew from a raccoon attack is potential with some know - how and common sense . commemorate , no protection is too uttermost when protecting your peck from racoon and other predators .
