I lost another chicken today. This was the third chicken I've lost recently in broad daylight to a raccoon. What is going on? I've never had a raccoon attack in the middle of the day before until about a week ago. At least they got a good meal out of her. Wings, feet, and bones were all that was left. Has anyone else had this problem and if so how have you delt with it?
Discussion
As someone who free ranges most our chickens, around the woods, predators are always afoot. I've grown to like the crows that ward off the hawks, the ones that hide and stay out at night... We've ran out for a few foxes and then rakkens.
But it's tough.
Trapping and relocating can be a good option. Had to do this for my plants.
When raccoons find a new or unconventional food source they will keep going back till the source I no longer available. Relocating doesn't work well as they are so smart. As an old trapper I know once told me, he more than once relocated a raccoon to the other side of the mountain and they beat him back. Truly there is only one surefire way to keep that particular raccoon from returning.