How much space does a chicken actually need?  

Yeah, that's the problem. With eggs costing so much, I'd kind of like to have chickens again. Even with the cost of corn. It's just I don't want to feed the wildlife much!

We're in Iowa, on the southern end. Where there aren't supposed to be foxes!! Except we saw one crossing the road yesterday. Racoons are everywhere. They are hateful!! They even go in the garage! Possums are all over too.
We've had raccoons and possums up eating the cat food, right next to the house! Used to keep the dog food outside, until we caught a possum in the bag. Now all the food is inside. I can't even feed the dogs outside, the darn blue jays eat half of it! Sheesh!Just saw in our insurance newspaper, people have pics of bobcats around here. That's just what I wanted to hear...

Hmm...I've got all that too, but I guess our "free range" dog keeps them away or something. They never bother our dog food either.

well im in tx and what kind of chickens are ya getting ?? we have polish ones they are soo cute and great with kids :) as for the food issuse we keep our food in rubbermaid tubs on our porch so the wildlife cant get to it lol cause man that food adds up ! oh I forgot to mention in my last post but they have small lights that are attched to a solar thing you can put on the roof of your chicken coop and that will help rotect them at night we just got one for now I am gonna put it up this weekend and see how much light we can get in there and maybe get another if needed , it was only 20$ so it is a good price im hoping its enough light to keep out the critters and not break my budget :)

~M~

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http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/...

I found this information to discourage raccoons.

Here is a repellant spray.

http://www.biconet.com/cr...

Here is California raccoon pest management information.

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.ed...

Here is another from Illinois.

http://www.dupagehealth.org/ehs/ch/raccoons.asp

Hope you can find something that helps.

I agree with live trapping in some circumstances, raccoons are not that circumstance. There are far too many of them as it is. Our neighbor makes weekly killings and trappings, but his chickens are still disappearing. I've killed my share of the bandits. I do not accept them eating cat food next to my house.

We used to have 2 big dogs that worked in tandem on them. Now, our 2 dogs are too little to do any good. And they can't work together to save their lives. Sigh.

I have cats, so trapping is out. The doofuses have to investigate everything. That would be the only reason for live trapping, since I'd have cats in them every day! The foxes are a threat, but easily deterred. Possums are too stupid. It's those cursed raccoons!

That's why we were thinking about a different type of coop, more like a rabbit hutch. That way we can keep the chickens closer to the house (not a pleasant thought anyway you look at it) and high enough to discourage the bandits.

It's been 6 years since we've had chickens or ducks. We don't see the varmints every day like we used to. That's the only reason we're considering trying it again.

I do appreciate all the wonderful sites you've given me to look over. Thank you very much.

Yes, that's why I said that others had successfully used traps, but it sounds like your neighbourhood is overrun with the pesky varmints. I have 2 barn cats as well, and my farm dog (Border Collie), so that's why I can't use a trap either. I use the 22 rifle though every chance I get. I'm always watching for prints or tracks. Right now, I know there is one up in my barn, but I have too many round bales of hay for it to hide amongst to get it. But little does it know, the husband is planning on emptying it soon, then I'll get him for sure.

I don't know what else to tell you except that they can get through wood if they want to, so tin would be your best option with glass windowsfor light that you could open and close with a heavy gauge steel mesh screen for air since they would surely claw through a regular screen. I would even bury the damn tin under the dirt floor for security.

Do your cats like peanut butter? Mine don't. But raccoons love it! And it is great bait in a trap. Maybe once the cats have been caught in it a couple of times, they would wise up and leave them alone and you could get down to the business of catching the raccoons. Just a thought.

I wish I could help more.

The foxes aren't as big a problem as the raccoons. Thanks for replying.

Yeah, not much facial expression on them!! But they do like to cause trouble. If you don't want them someplace, you can be sure that's where they'll all be. Every day!

Thanks for the measurements. I appreciate that.

You're more than welcome. It was just a wooden frame covered with chicken wire, but I think it was pegged into the ground with metal, hooked stakes, rather like a tent.

Or beat on each other. I agree. Thanks!

Thank you for the idea. I appreciate it.

Your welcome. The chicken wire kept our chickens safe at night.

We had a foster dog for a short while at the same time we had chickens. He was found at the river. He was a Corgie and he loved to bother chickens. This was before chipping, so we had no way to find it's owner other than found/lost dog ads in the local paper.

He dug under the coop until my dad buried the wire. That put an end to it. Our chickens and eggs were safe.

Be glad!! I'm sure you have to worry about feral cats and such, don't you?

Not really. We've never had an attack on a chicken before, since the area where I live, there aren't a lot of dogs and cats running around. Even if there are cats who do get into are yard, they can't really get to the chickens, since they're safely guarded. I also failed to mention that we have a roof for them, so things can't invade from above.