bouldercroft Posted October 9, 2011 Share Posted October 9, 2011 has anyone tried the solar night eyes? for $20 it may be worthwhile.. http://www.mypetchicken.com/catalog/chickens/Solar-Nite-Eyes-p834.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopsie Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 Wow and we thought the foxes were bad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted November 16, 2011 Share Posted November 16, 2011 There was a feature recently - people are importing raccoons and other non-native species as 'exotic' pets - and there is some concern that raccoons will become another 'mink' situation, where they escape into the wild, breed, and then prey on small animals that our natural species would normally prey on All I could think was 'I want a baby raccoon!' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margalot Posted November 18, 2011 Share Posted November 18, 2011 Bouldercroft, what a lovely run you have! I love the idea of the Bamboo blinds!, looks so natural. lots of good ideas! what lucky chooks you have ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeloo Posted November 19, 2011 Share Posted November 19, 2011 We left the back off of the to help break Zoe of her broodiness last Sunday. I got so busy with housework that I totally forgot about it and closed up the run that evening, but forgot about the back door! I didn't realize it until the next evening when I got home from work and went to check on them! Funny thing was they were both standing at the run door acting like they wanted to be let out, silly hens! Fortunately, there still seem to be no raccoons in our neighborhood and Zoe definitely isn't broody anymore! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouldercroft Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 Raccoons are nothing to sneeze at. We lost 2 of our girls 2 weeks ago, so we penned everyone else up. Then last week, another coon got in and killed all 5 of the remaining girls. It was a complete blood-bath We are completely devistated and are now going to cull the raccoon population around our house and build an over-engineered walk-in run to place our Cube (hardward cloth, burried sides, tile shards buried around perimeter, heavy-duty roof, etc). Learn by my loss; secure your precious girls if you are in raccoon prone areas! I've had a number of friends in my city that have also lost chooks this past month Yikes - I spoke too soon - I think the raccoons are trying to get into my WIR - can you take a look at this thread and tell me if you think a raccoon is the perpetrator? http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=83794 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LIgal Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Hi, just ordered my eglu cube last week and have some questions about racoons. We have a large racoon population and I am wondering if the cube closed for the evening will keep the girls safe? Racoons are nocturnal so daytime when the girls are out are not a p oblem (at least for racoons, but we do have a hawk that targets hens in the area). My concern is do I need to place added security keep the critters from getting in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouldercroft Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I've had my for 18months now and it's kept the girls safe from all the critters (raccoons, possums, foxes, coyotes, squirrels, fisher cats) - you should be good as long as you remember to lock them in. Most attacks have been related to catches not being fully latched or the port door not being fully closed. enjoy your new chickens - they're soooooo much fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LIgal Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Thanks so much for the reply! This is my first time raising chickens, something I've wanted to do for years now....I guess I'm just a little nervous about screwing up. I have a barn where we used to have horses that is not in use anymore, thought about putting the eglu in one of the stalls for added warmth...although I have to say it's been the mildest winter here in years...but it's not over yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...