So, I suspected a raccoon. There is enough space beneath a couple of the barn doors for a raccoon to squeeze under and the hens were vulnerable, still nesting on the ground with their chicks. Last night we let Nutmeg stay outside all night, and this morning, she was patiently waiting beneath the tree next to the chicken coop, having treed a raccoon. Circumstantial evidence suggested he was the culprit.
First, I called a couple neighbors to see if they had a live trap we could borrow; then I called the DNR to find out where they recommended to let the raccoon go when we caught it. They said it is a nuisance animal and recommended that I shoot it. I realize that is what any self-respecting farmer would do - it is your responsibility as a farmer to protect your livestock. (Plus, you can't really afford to let them be devoured!) But the only kind of gun I have ever shot is a BB gun when I was a kid.
Our neighbor's daughter, Hannah, arrived with a shotgun to dispatch the raccoon, which Nutmeg still had conveniently treed. Hannah offered me ear protection (because of course I had my camera to photograph her in action) and in the one minute it took us to get the ear protection out of the car, Nutmeg got distracted and came over, and when we turned around, the clever raccoon had disappeared without a trace!
Drats! But I am certain he will be back. We will have to let Nutmeg keep watch outside at night until we get him.
9 comments:
Oh damn! That guy has been well fed, hasn't he?
I'm sorry about your large loss-that really stinks. I hope that if the raccoon does come back, you are able to relocate him, either from this life or just from your property.
Those critters are no good! Possums are go right along with them. So sorry about your chickens.
@ 3Beeze Homestead
Who would have thought that such cute animals could be such vicious hunters? Sorry you didn't get it his time. Keep us posted.
sad to hear about the chickens
O so sorry and they were awesome hatching hens. Hope you guys finally get that coon.
It really helps to have a radio and lights on in the barn. I had constant trouble with raccoons and skunks killing my chickens until I put a radio in the hen house. Put it on public radio so the coons think there are people talking in the barn. Even if I accidently left the hen door open, I had no problems with chicken deaths. Broody hens are the worst, they don't seem to get it that there hidden spots are safe from all creatures. Its hard to shoot an animal, I've done it a few times. I got so sick of predators killing my hens and chicks. Sorry for you loss and I hope you catch the culprit at large.
The radio is a great idea, Leslie!
Wow, that's horrible. Sorry about the chickens. You could always try packing the open space with bricks and keep track of how disturbed the bricks are in the morning. If they're normal, no coon. If the bricks seemed messed up a bit, then more guard duty for Hazel! If all else fails, you could wait at night with a gun and shoot the coon, or get it back in the Live Trap and keep a close eye on it. I've never had a raccoon escape from a Live Trap, but the things are so clever. A pity that such a beautiful creature was such a pest.
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