Chicken Killer!

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

Son of a gun... something got in and killed my wifes two favorite chickens two nights ago. They were the two best layers too so I'm really mad. Thought it was time to break out the trapping skills, whatever got in there will surely be back for more!

Taught my boy a few tricks I learned over the years trapping in my youth. My wife picked up a few new traps yesterday and I showed my boy how to take them apart and "tune" them and get them all adjusted, then how to make sets, using small sticks get the critter to step where you want. It all paid off!

Hate to loose the hens, but it was satisfactory to see the culprit in a trap this morning. It was a HUGE boar racoon. Got that chicken thief! He's killed his last chicken for sure. Huge boar 'coon, no wonder he was able to tear things up like he did.

My boy was stoked to see it caught. My boy and wife were pretty angry as it was their two favorite chickens, but that was mitigated somewhat knowing the killer has been dealt with.

35" nose to tail... he was big and really pissed off this morning, a .22LR between the eyes ended it.

-DallanC

gelandangan · Posted: Sun May 05, 2013 7:45 pm Post subject: Re: Chicken Killer!

Never seen raccoon yet except ones in the zoo.
But all of them are about house cat size.
Thats a big one you got Dallan.

pete4d · Posted: Sun May 05, 2013 8:12 pm Post subject: Re: Chicken Killer!

All you need now are some sweet-taters to bake him with.

Elvis · Posted: Sun May 05, 2013 9:50 pm Post subject: Re: Chicken Killer!

that hide will look good on the wall. good trapping skills indeed. that trap is the same as the ones we use now for opossums. buy some more new chooks they will fill the void soon enough.

Vince · Posted: Sun May 05, 2013 11:38 pm Post subject: Re: Chicken Killer!

Your young fella done good mate. I reckon he deserves a hat or similar made outa that skin. A great opportunity to teach him how to tan skins.

Get your wife a couple of Rhode Island Red hens Dallan...great egg layers, very hardy and they are also easy to look after.

radar · Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 1:45 am Post subject: Re: Chicken Killer!

1 x Daniel Boon hat in the making?
They're bigger than what I thought they'd be.

dhc4ever · Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 3:08 am Post subject: Re: Chicken Killer!

Coon stew anyone.?

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

Vince wrote:

Get your wife a couple of Rhode Island Red hens Dallan...great egg layers, very hardy and they are also easy to look after.

A Rhode Island Red and a Barred Rock were the two that got killed. The others are all mixbreed mutts. I really dont want to raise up pullets again, I'll find someone with year old laying hens looking to sell.

-DallanC

dust54 · Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 12:25 pm Post subject: Re: Chicken Killer!

Dallan,

Good trapping. I had a coon get one of my RI Reds through the chicken wire fencing. Caught the culprit in a live trap and gave him to the local coon club for the dogs. I have since caught two possums. I love my eggs in the morning! We now have four hens laying and six biddies about to begin laying.

shrpshtrjoe · Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 1:23 pm Post subject: Re: Chicken Killer!

Right on. That coon will make a fine hide or hat Very Happy

SingleShotLover · Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 4:47 am Post subject: Re: Chicken Killer!

Those darned things do get big and strong. Had a coon problem here last year and set out a live trap. It wasn't one of these cheap things, it was built stout and re-enforced. Coon got caught in it and totally demolished the trap. Left some hide and blood behind, but made good his escape. Hasn't been around since then so maybe learned his lesson.

BigBlue · Posted: Wed May 08, 2013 4:15 pm Post subject: Re: Chicken Killer!

I was out with my dog about three weeks ago and noticed the chickens making a racket and running towards us. Sure enough a raccoon was chasing them. Not knowing whether the coon had rabies or not, I took the dog in the house and grabbed my Marlin .22. When I went back out the coon came right for me until the first .22 hit it. I had always heard that coons during the daytime are likely to have rabies, but I imagine a hungry one doesn't check the time before eating. The fact that it had no fear and came after me was a bit strange though. Hawks have taken more of my hens than any other critter.