Raccoon Problem near our chicken coop!

We have had a few issues over the past 2 weeks with raccoons. We had none for a couple of months while the chickens were in their coop and the past 2 weeks I have caught 6 and there are more around to catch…enjoy the show.

[@miguelpedraza184]

Appreciate you not relocating them and making them someone elses problem.

[@willowspiral7886]

This is some good info & advice about predators. Thank you for sharing your knowledge & experiences.

[@conniemoore4574]

I just found your channel You sir have a great voice for videos and or TV. Thank for such a soothing sound and content. Raccoons will tear you up I have a great friend who raised an orphaned baby he grew up had always been so sweet until she opened the door to feed him and he put her in the hospital because he tore her neck and face apart. She survived but with many scars. God Bless from Texas

[@GilliamFarms]

Thank you...

[@grammydayao7581]

Raccoons love peanut butter, I'm glad you got them , my bother use to feed them out of his hand , he loved those Raccoons Lol... he caught way over 100 of them I can remember my mother yelling at him ,they love peanut butter, I like watching them on television, but not around my house, I have chickens n the other day I saw a Raccoon walking pass my house, I almost had a panic attack, I ran back to my chickens to check the locks on the coop doors , it can be scary at times , I love watching your videos, thank you 😊

[@GilliamFarms]

Thank you, my wife and I are filming new content daily to educate and entertain. I expect we will have many more raccoon/chicken videos in the future!

[@madeuce3011]

Raccoons raid my garden, I have a 55 gallon barrel I use to give trapped raccoons a "bath" in., trap and all. Just picked up a used coop, I'll get my chickens in the spring. Not sure what I'll do in winter when a barrel of water will freeze

[@GilliamFarms]

We use heated waterers that we plug in to keep them from freezing up. If it gots down toward single digits I hang it in the coop itself out of the wind.

[@scottanddebranelson8419]

wire mesh/hardware cloth on the ground all around the base of your coop the same gauge as what the walls are made of will likely suffice. or chicken wire though it may not hold up as long. i'd imagine any type of fence with small enough gap would work. i'd go about a foot out away from the coop to at least discourage if not flat out prevent them from digging. some say to bury it but staking it down or maybe just some large blocks should do the trick. you could strap logs to it possibly.

[@GilliamFarms]

Luckily we have very rocky ground and nothing will dig in in one night. I have cameras on the coop and run at night and I check the perimeter daily. The chickens go into the secured coop at night and the door closes and they are secure inside.

[@scottanddebranelson8419]

@@GilliamFarms yeah coons may not dig but if you have coyotes they don't mind the rocks. not sure about armadillos though.

[@PLJS2018]

Place tin around the Perimeter of your coop, push tin snug all around it so nothing can dig in from the bottom.😊

[@GilliamFarms]

That’s a good idea...I think we are gonna do pavers just for the look though...

[@PLJS2018]

@@GilliamFarms that’s great idea also!

[@randywoodworth5990]

Raccoons make good night time Sniper practice from the rooftop.

[@grizzlymullet2329]

I lost half of my flock to a filthy raccoon a week ago. It was absolutely awful. The raccoon killed just to kill, didn’t even eat any of them. I hope I catch the filthy critter! I’ll have to give the marshmallows a try!

[@GilliamFarms]

They are hard on chickens for sure. Marshmallows have worked well for us...

[@charlesstevensj]

thanks for the insight

[@GilliamFarms]

You’re welcome!

[@PetersonFarmsofNashvillePFON]

Got the same problem but we’re winning 👍

[@urbangardeningchronicles]

Thanks for sharing 👍🏾

[@GilliamFarms]

Thank you...I have another raccoon video in the works!

[@glenn6448]

Its very simple to get an electric fencer and put a strand around the coop . Turn it on at night. I do that. Problem solved. They are a nuisance but they are trying to survive the life they have been given.

[@GilliamFarms]

They will learn to survive it somewhere else.

[@sallyeblen7032]

Thanks for sharing

[@GilliamFarms]

My pleasure

[@littlefarmer32]

Make a nice furry hat out of that one

[@Doomsday-Prepper70]

I just found your channel too. Volume is just a little low. Did you dispatch the racoon?

[@GilliamFarms]

Sorry about the volume...I was using a cell phone on that one. Yes, I dispatched the raccoon...

[@ajw2985]

Snap traps. Once they get a fill for those the quit coming around. Also motion spot lights. Good luck!

[@user-wq3jp3qg1o]

Big dogs keep them out. Ever think about raising a puppy with them. They won’t come around at all. Problem solved.. works well for skunks, possum, hawks, and other dogs. Wishing you the best

[@lucyaponte5085]

👏👏👏

[@andrewrunnion1374]

I have been having problems with raccoons myself. And they will kill 2 or 3 at a time. And will find that one spot to get In.

[@GilliamFarms]

Luckily we haven’t actually lost any birds but I know many who have. I used to raise some rabbits years ago that had wire floored cages up on legs and dogs would grab the rabbits feet from below and pull them through the wire until they died...it was pretty sad!

[@HedgehogsHomestead]

hi there nice to meet you

[@HedgehogsHomestead]

my goodness scary

[@GilliamFarms]

You too! Thanks for dropping in!

[@winkfinkerstien1957]

Good content and video. I'm still doing research and planning before I get the hens. I saw a huge raccoon standing up in our back yard in the middle of the night, almost 4 feet tall, biggest I've ever seen. I didn't realize how aggressive they could be until I read the comments section. I saw one of those traps in the trash (a bit larger) and saved it. Thanks for sharing. I'm going to check out your other videos as well. 😎👍🏻

[@GilliamFarms]

Yes, don’t ever underestimate what a raccoon will do for a chicken dinner. Since I made those videos back in the August time frame we have had no issues whatsoever but are always diligent. As soon as this weather breaks I am going to do a walk around of where the chicken coop is at this point. The hens are all laying and we average a dozen eggs a day...nice to not have to buy mass production eggs from the supermarket any longer and we are keeping all of our friends and family in eggs as well! Chickens are a simple Joy...

[@brierobinson194]

So whats going to happen to the raccoon? Are you going to release him somewhere far?

[@GilliamFarms]

The issue with that is no matter where you release it they end up being a problem for someone else. Raccoons in our state are considered nuisance animals by the wildlife department and they no longer limit the taking or even have a season for them any longer. Many years ago when there was still a fur market they were kept in check but now they are unchecked. My wife and I have a Honda Civic that we accidentally hit raccoons on 2 occasions with. Repairs were over $4000…the answer to your question is I euthanize them.

[@brierobinson194]

@@GilliamFarms Truly sad ! They too, have every right to live. You wrote that in your state they are considered Nuisance! By whom? By the the state laws that are made up by people. Just like slavery was legal back in the day, but was it ethical?! I hope you would consider not killing them but relocating them. Yes they might return or may not, but I feel that if you want chickens in your land then it’s your duty to keep catching and releasing these beautiful creatures. Studies of raccoon intelligence shows that they are at least as intelligent as rhesus macaques, and also that an extraordinary amount of their brain processing power focuses on feeling, both emotionally and physically. Also keep in mind they too have natural predators to include; wolves, bobcats, coyotes, the great horned owl. So if you kill all of the raccoons, you may find new visitors in your chicken coup! You will be trading a smaller issue for a much bigger problem! Their lives might be insignificant to you but their lives matter! Live,and let others live!

[@GilliamFarms]

I am not going to argue the point. You may relocate all of the raccoons you like but a raccoon that has tasted chicken will find more chickens and my chickens are going to take precedent over any raccoon. Any animal that gets in our pocket book is going to go away…that is the last I have to say on this.

[@madeuce3011]

I used to release them, until I almost got caught. It is considered "trapping out of season" by the Division of Wildlife. Breaking Division of Wildlife laws they have authority to confiscate the vehicle used to "commit the crime". I live on the Great Lakes. You better know your fishing laws, DNR can and does confiscate your boat, fishing gear, and vehicle. Does it happen often? No, but I'm not taking chances. Just know trapping and releasing wild animals somewhere else (You CAN release on your own property) is illegal.

[@mf12060825]

I do not think you should trap or kill them. I also have alot of chickens and have never lost a chicken to a raccoon, but yes we have plenty of them. It's up to the chicken owner to secure their coops. If a raccoon gets into your coop you just need to figure it out. I firmly believe that humans need to learn to coexist with the creatures struggling to get by in this environment. It's not the raccoons fault if we have a weak spot in our chicken enclosure. Keep a live stock guardian with them. Leave wildlife alone and let them teach you how to keep your hens safe. Killing wildlife is not the answer.

[@aliasfred]

Do you dispatch ol Trash Pandas?

[@GilliamFarms]

Yessir...

[@bobbiecrowel1937]

If you kill all the predators you will just end up with a bigger problem Rats and Mice that is much more of a problem than poor Racoons and Opossum

[@GilliamFarms]

We do not have any rat or mice problems at all, I keep all feed in metal containers and I have video cameras on the coops and runs all night and have never even seen a mouse! only issues we have had in the past is raccoons and possums crawling all around our chicken coop at night not letting the chickens rest...stress kills...

[@dbadaddy7386]

I'd be inclined to have a tub of water deeper than that trap handy and a block to put on top. The birds and vegetables are more valuable to me than the raccoon. Anyone who objects can whip out their wallets and start paying for the damage.

[@GilliamFarms]

That’s my view as well. I tolerate nothing that kills or harms our livestock!

[@Yeshuaschosen]

You need a bigger coop lol

[@GilliamFarms]

We have the big one completed now. They are all doing great!

[@Yeshuaschosen]

@@GilliamFarms Glad they're all doing okay and the coons dealt with! My chickens need a bigger coop now because I just bought more baby chicks! Wishing you the best!

[@huevoshuevos1020]

In 1 night they can kill 50 chikens or more

[@huevoshuevos1020]

You need to put a Snare Made from the same type of wire from the brakes of a bike

[@caMpBeIIA]

I stopped a raccoon from peeing on my porch every night. I cleaned the area and placed aluminum foil there.It hasn’t been back.

[@GilliamFarms]

I had to look that one up. It appears they don’t like the feel of it under their feet...good job!

[@brokendown1236]

Thats when you stay up like a night owl and shoot em with a air rifle

[@GilliamFarms]

I have motion cameras that alert me so I don’t really have to stay up and I just use a .22 in those instances...I like your thinking though. Haven’t had a raccoon on camera in a long time at this point...

[@sb510d4]

Electric fence

[@GilliamFarms]

Our chickens free range throughout the day and I am sure electric fence would help while in the coop but for the rest of the time I am not electric fencing our entire yard.

[@biglonniegruhn]

Get a Patterdale puppy and all vermin will be Dealt with swiftly.

[@jassy95]

ANYBODY want to read a true & funny story: I remember one time, I was taking the trash out. I usually don't turn the back porch light on because it's a nice neighborhood and rural area. Well, something said turn on the back porch light. I still had the screen closed but the glass door was open. When I turned it on I saw a 2 ft Racoon right in front of me with a whole bagel in it's mouth. We literally stared at each other for about 1 minute. I dropped the trash and the racoon proceeded to *very unbothered like* crawl under the crawl space. I slammed the back door and called my fiance. He said I should've grabbed the bb gun and shot him in the butt but I was just so flabbergasted by how cocky this racoon was! I'm just happy I turned on the light because if I didn't see him he would've definitely attacked me, (if you saw how closed in the area we were in it would make sense). Now, I love animals but not all animals need to be or should be treated like your average cat or dog. They will attack you threatened or not and then you'd have to get raby shots. I do feel blessed to see so much wildlife, possums, racoon, deer and bucks, foxes and their new born pups (That's adorable), 2 doves that nest every year, Robin's, skunks etc. The back porch is a beautiful ecosystem but I think it's important people stop making every animal that is "cute" cloud their judgement Long story short...now my fiance takes the trash out!!

[@GilliamFarms]

Wildlife that loses its fear of man is a dangerous combination whether it be a raccoon or a bison. I am glad you can tell the difference between cute & cuddly vs stitches & rabies shots!

[@Christine-Mrs.GilliamFarms]

That’s a great story!! Thanks for sharing.

[@johac7637]

There is a trap that is like a pipe where you put feed into, as they feed and use their paws, look into it, My childhood dog 1 eyed it all his 14 year life due to a coon, so to this day, zero tolerance, payback and go live in the wild.

[@GilliamFarms]

You should watch my other video called “Are you kidding me! 16 Raccoons in a month!” I use the trap you mentioned in that one...

[@Valleygirl66]

i love my chickens but I also Love raccoons,..please re-locate

[@Valleygirl66]

They killed my loved rooster,..but they don't know better,..I have compassion for both.

[@RiveraDelta_Homestead]

Even websites that support raccoons say to not relocate. The relocated raccoon doesn’t survive in the new location Native Animal Rescue “Can I trap raccoons and relocate them? Live trapping is not recommended for ridding your property of raccoons. Trapping and relocating is only a temporary solution, inhumane and illegal. Relocated raccoons have to fight with already established raccoons for territory, food and shelter. Most do not survive.”

[@stevewalker4638]

Electric fence works good

[@deliaalmeida6928]

I hope you dont kill them 😢

[@thurston4mor]

He started laying into a submissive position “I’m like so innocent “ Lol unbelievable They are what they are..

[@estebancamargo7407]

Putaxi

[@estebancamargo7407]

PU

[@estebancamargo7407]

TA

[@estebancamargo7407]

Putain

[@aprilasbahr]

Why not contact Wildlife Control. No need to kill raccoons or possums. They would relocate them to a different place.

[@GilliamFarms]

We live in a very rural area...edge of the county, miles of dirt road with town being about 15 miles away. Every landowner out here is their own animal control. I saw a big raccoon crossing our yard about 8:30 am this morning so now I won’t free range them until I get this new one sorted out...

[@aprilasbahr]

So you don't kill them right?

[@skinnyWHITEgoyim]

@april asbahr no ..... he just politely asks them to not be animals.

[@supme7558]

There over populated they wont take em

[@jerrylansbury9558]

Yah right..coons will travel 30 miles and they will find home. No different then a dog. Why would anyone want to dump their problem on someone else ?? So sad ! Anything you catch......shoot / kill it dead !!!