How to Protect Your Backyard Chickens From Raccoons?

An Overview Of The Relationship Between Raccoons and Backyard Chickens

By Tom Seest

How to Protect Your Backyard Chickens From Raccoons?

There are several ways to keep raccoons away from your backyard chickens. Keep pet food bowls out of the yard, cayenne pepper, and ammonia-soaked rags in strategic spots around the yard, and try to keep your chickens from roosting near the perimeter of their run.

This photo was taken by Esteban Arango and is available on Pexels at https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-raccoon-on-the-grass-10226816/.

Should You Avoid Leaving Pet Food Dishes Outside Around Chickens?

Keeping raccoons and backyard chickens away from your home is a simple matter of removing their favorite food sources. Raccoons are drawn to garbage and pet food dishes because they provide them with an easy source of food. To keep raccoons from accessing these foods, secure trash cans with heavy lids on racks or bungee cords. It is also a good idea to remove pet food dishes from outside your home before nightfall.
Raccoons can be a nuisance, especially if you’re not careful. They can bend chicken wire and get into your coop. Some homeowners believe that having a dog or cat will keep them away, but raccoons can’t be deterred by a dog or cat. The truth is that any food that’s left out in the open will likely attract a raccoon. Raccoons are predatory animals and will eat anything that looks like food.
The last thing you want is a raccoon living in your backyard. These animals can destroy your property within minutes. They can eat your chickens and their eggs and spread diseases. And they won’t stop until all your chickens are dead.

This photo was taken by Tina Nord and is available on Pexels at https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-raccoon-hiding-inside-the-tree-branch-7049866/.

Should You Avoid Leaving Ammonia-Soaked Rags Around Chickens?

If you want to protect your backyard chickens and raccoons, do not leave ammonia-soaked rags on your property. Raccoons do not like the smell of ammonia and will move on if they notice the smell. Ammonia can also be harmful to human beings. It can also attract other pests to your property.
Ammonia is very toxic to chickens and other animals, so it is best to never leave soaked rags in your backyard. If you must leave rags out, you must replace them regularly, especially after a rainstorm. While ammonia is an effective repellent for raccoons, it is also harmful to chickens. Instead, use pepper and cayenne pepper, which are not toxic for chickens.
If you do not want raccoons to stay in your backyard, you can put the rags on the smoke shelf of your fireplace. Make sure that the device is turned on at night. You should also place crumpled newspaper at the entrance of the den. In addition to putting rags in your den, keep them clean.
Raccoons and backyard chickens are nocturnal creatures. They like to hunt at dusk and dawn. They can enter your home through vent screens or openings. They also feed on fruits, nuts, and other plants.

This photo was taken by Chris F and is available on Pexels at https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-raccoon-hiding-on-a-tree-11994444/.

Should You Avoid Leaving Cayenne Pepper Around the Edges Of Your Yard?

Although raccoons are cute and entertaining to watch, they can also cause a lot of damage to your yard. They can eat your plants and make a mess of any garbage you leave outside. This can be very difficult to deal with, but there are several ways to keep them away. First, you can use cayenne pepper. This spicy pepper is effective at keeping raccoons away. Simply mix it with a gallon of water in a sprayer and spray it around the perimeter of your yard. Remember to spray it after rain to get the best results.
Cayenne pepper is not toxic to dogs, cats, rabbits, or squirrels, but it is very irritating to the animals’ noses and throats. It will also burn their skin, but it will deter them from damaging your plants. It can also be harmful to earthworms and can make them sick.
Raccoons are particularly frightened by hot peppers, onions, and garlic. In addition to this, they are also repulsed by the smell of ammonia. Soaking rags in ammonia and raccoon repellent can help. You can also make your own homemade repellent with a few ingredients, including cayenne pepper, onions, and garlic. Test the mixture to see if it works.

This photo was taken by David Selbert and is available on Pexels at https://www.pexels.com/photo/cute-raccoons-on-grassy-ground-7455191/.

Should You Keep Chickens From Roosting Near the Edges Of the Run?

There are several ways to prevent backyard chickens from roosting too close to the edge of their run. One simple way is to place roosting bars at various heights. It is best to have roosts that are at least two to four feet above the floor. Chickens will naturally prefer higher roosts. Make sure that the roosts are big enough for your chickens to fly up to them.
Another way to prevent backyard chickens from roosting close to the edge of the run is to place nest boxes in secluded areas of the run. This will give hens enough time to sit in their nest box before joining the roost. Hens have a vent in their reproductive tract called the cloaca, which is an opening through which they empty their urinary, gastrointestinal, and reproductive tract. When a hen lays an egg, pink tissue comes out of the vent.

This photo was taken by Katie Burandt and is available on Pexels at https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-a-raccoon-7177522/.

Should You Let Raccoons Enter Your Coop?

Raccoons are a problem in backyard chicken coops, but there are ways to protect your flock. First, make sure your coop is secure. Using a two-step system to latch the door is crucial. This will prevent raccoons from opening the door.
Another way to keep raccoons out of your coop is to place a predator-deterrent light near it. These lights emit a red light that mimics the predator’s eye. Make sure the lights are placed at eye level, so they appear dangerous to raccoons.
Another method for keeping raccoons away is to keep the coop well-lit and clear of food at night. Also, make sure to remove any hiding areas that raccoons might use. This will help keep your chickens healthy. It is also a good idea to make sure the area surrounding your coop is devoid of bushes and trees.
Another way to keep raccoons away from your coop is to put up a fence. You can use small-mesh fencing, which is readily available at home improvement stores. Hardware cloth fencing is better than chicken wire because the wires are welded together, making it difficult for raccoons to squeeze through them.

This photo was taken by David Selbert and is available on Pexels at https://www.pexels.com/photo/funny-raccoon-standing-on-grass-7465115/.

How to Avoid Letting Raccoons Eat Your Chickens?

If you want to keep your backyard chickens, you may want to avoid letting raccoons eat them. Raccoons are notorious for their destructive nature. They don’t leave clean kill sites, and they often leave a trail of shredded chicken bones and heads. Luckily, raccoons don’t usually eat whole chickens. They will instead leave a trail of feathers, entrails, and tons of other gross stuff.
If you don’t want raccoons to eat your chickens, keep their feed out of reach. Raccoons are opportunistic creatures who love tasty treats. Keep your feed away from your chickens at night. You should also clean out the leftover feed. Place it in steel containers with tight-fitting lids. Also, keep your trash out of reach of the chicken area.
Keep raccoons out of your backyard chickens’ nesting boxes. Raccoons are drawn to food and will find the easiest route to get to it. They will find eggs and baby chicks, and they will also find feed in containers that are not secure. Raccoons can run up to 24 mph and can drop as far as 40 feet.

This photo was taken by David Selbert and is available on Pexels at https://www.pexels.com/photo/adorable-raccoon-with-tongue-out-7465131/.