Protect Backyard Chickens from Raccoons

This week is the beginning of a series that will explore the many predators that threatens the backyard chicken flock. Proper identification of the predatory threat is key to implementing the right solution to this problem and keeping your hens safe.

chickens The first predator we will look at will be the masked bandit commonly known as raccoon, or scientifically speaking- procyon loter. This omnivorous creature can range in size from 23.5 in. to 37.5 in. and 4 to 23 lbs. In the wild, the raccoon lives an average of 2-3 years. If near water, they like to eat frogs and crayfish and other aquatic treats. On land, they will grab mice, insects and most applicably to us tasty eggs and sometimes the poultry themselves.

So, how do you know if it is a raccoon that is attacking your chickens? Well, if there is

raccoon raccoon

a raccoon presence, look for tracks(like above)in sandy or muddy areas. If chickens have been attacked by raccoons, evidence could include severed heads dragged away from the body, birds pulled unsuccessfully pulled through enclosures, birds whose necks have been severely injured and ransacked nesting areas. http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/raccoons.html

Once you have identified the perpetrator, then you will be able to protect your coop properly. Raccoons are savvy predators but almost every predator is another animal’s prey. It is the natural, genetically programmed instinctual fear of a predator that makes a product like predator urine work as a natural, non-pesticidal repellent. So, what does the raccoon fear? Well, one of its most common predators is the coyote and thus the most logical predator urine to choose would be coyote urine. 100% coyote urine is available at predatorpee.com with various applicators available depending on your exact setup. All you need to do is make a pee-rimeter around the area you are trying to protect – in this case your coop or run.

The Long Winter

Greetings from the FROZEN North Woods,

It has been four months since I last blogged. Four months of winter. I live in Maine, I should expect it, right? It may come every year, but each Maine winter has its own surprises. This winter is no exception. Big snow storm and freezing first of November. Early December more snow. Then, it all melts and it is near 50 for Christmas! January is colder but no snow. And then, the Emperor of the North(I stole that phrase from somewhere)descended on a carpet of white and has yet to recede one bit. We now have 4 feet of snow and February is going on the books as the coldest month in this part of the world. Not only the coldest February – the coldest month – jumping ahead of four Januarys in the top five coldest months on record. So, I have just been on shovel, snowblow, plow, roof rake and repeat mode for a month. My stink pipe has frozen over multiple times, the roof of the greenhouse almost collapsed under the weight of snow, my transmission went in the truck, I substituted the Scout for plowing, got the truck back, one of my laying hens died, and meanwhile the snow drifts just keep growing and blowing. My driveway disappears regularly with the drifting which means more plowing. In between snow duties, I have to find time to make sure the pee gets out the door. I have to have inventory deliveries made at my daughter’s house in town because the UPS guy can’t always make it down the driveway. So I haven’t had much time for blogging. I have complained an awful lot and I don’t like just letting problems hang out there without resolution. Advice to self – “So, quit your bellyaching and do something!”

Snow Scout reporting for duty!

Well, I can’t make the snow disappear but I can use the time inside forced on me by the brutal wind and snow to do something productive. So, I am updating the blog, changing some things up and broadening the scope of my posts. Don’t worry, I will still pass along tidbits about all the wonderful uses of pee – I am the PeeMan after all! But, I will start posting about what life is like for me. Now, I don’t know why anyone would really want to take time to read about a 60 something entreprenuer who lives in the woods of Maine, but my daughters tell me that this blogging is an important part of the whole internet commerce thing. On that note, think backyard chickens(2015 is the year of the chicken at predatorpee.com), think gardening – seedlings going to be started soon, don’t forget airstream refurbish #2, the Scout project, pig husbandry, and maybe even some excerpts from the book I wrote for my daughters for Christmas 2014.

Protect Your Backyard Chickens with PredatorPee

The PeeMan’s very own Brown Betty

Well, isn’t she a beauty? She lays a mean egg, too. This whole backyard chicken thing is a relatively new experiment for the PeeMan. But, a whole host of critters, including foxes, coyotes, raccoons, hawks, and even dogs have been causing problems around chicken coops for decades. Whether it is in your back yard or a full farming operation, the need for an all-natural repellent to protect your chickens and their precious eggs has never been greater. As many of you sadly know from first-hand experience, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, hawks, and yes, even dogs eat chickens and ruin your prospects for eggs, whether you plan to eat ’em, sell ’em, or hatch ’em.

Wolf urine is an effective fox and coyote deterrent that repels foxes and coyotes from your chicken coop by creating the illusion that a wolf is nearby. Wolf Urine or Coyote urine will take care of raccoons, our PeeCoy Combo is great for birds, and Bear Urin or Skunk’Umcan keep the dogs away. Now you can protect your chickens and their eggs with Wolf Pee, Coyote Pee, Bear Pee, and Skunk’Um from PredatorPee.com, the best and most reliable source for predator urines since 1986.

Create a “pee-rimeter” around your chicken coop by using WolfPee liquid with ScentTags, 33 Day Dispensers or ScentWraps. This will keep fox and coyote away from your chicken coop for good. This is not a chemical repellent, nor are there any additives whatsoever. Wolf Urine is completely natural, organic, and 100% real urine! The one thing that a fox or a coyote fears is a wolf, and wolf urine sends a clear message that a wolf is nearby. Except no substitute.

Well, that is all for now. The sun shone briefly here for a while today and the temperatures actually rose above 50! Brown Betty was enjoying the sun, too! I’ve got some pictures of the Airstream project, and I will post them soon. The PeeMan