Coon Traps

We all have problems with coons eating our chickens.  My additional problem is that I have a dog.  I love my dog and don't want her to get caught in a traditional trap.  I tried using live traps, but once a coon got in, my dog ate the trap to get to the coon. 

So I got to looking for a dog safe coon trap.  Here is one I came up with. 

It's called a lil griz trap.  The idea is that you bait it with marshmallows, or some other sweet treat that a coon will like.  They reach inside, the trap closes on their arm, and they are stuck until you retrieve them.  It only closes as they pull their arm out.  A dog can step on it all day and not set it off.  Pretty neat little contraption.  Here's the link:  http://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=NWS001&Product_Code=WCSGrizz&Category_Code=WCSSS

I have no idea if that's a good price or not.  But it's a starting point.  Good Luck!

Racoon leftovers

We have been discussing what can be done with the remnants of a coon kill.  One of the gals on Whizbang Chicken Pluckers caught a coon in the act and shot it.  Since the kill was fresh, she wanted to know what she could do with it.  The overwhealming majority of responses all agreed.  Dispose of the carcasses.  Use them for coyote bait, burn them, or compost them. 

Racoons carry many transmittable diseases like rabies and distemper.  It is just not worth the risk to process and cook a coon kill.  Usually you find the evidence long after the fact and its far too late then.  Never process a sick chicken, roadkilled chicken, or remnants from predation.  Chickens are cheap, hospital stays are not.

Time release feeders for weekend getaways

When I was younger I had fish.  Whenever I came home from college for the weekend I would put one of those time release feeder floaties in the tank for them so they didn't starve to death.  With the long weekend I had the same fear for my chicks and ducks.  So I grabbed something that we normally put out for deer and turkey.  You can find a Flock Block at any of your local farm stores (TSC, Orscheliens, MFA, etc) or at Bass Pro or Cabela's.  I believe they are cheaper at the farm stores, unless you catch them on sale.

These are compressed blocks of cracked corn, sunflower, millett, and all the yummy stuff that chickens, turkeys, and ducks just love to munch on.   Before we left I put fresh water in the duck pond and turned the auto waterer on.  I filled both feeders with food and put the flock block out in the middle of the pen.  We went to Bennet Springs over the holiday and had a blast.   Fished, ate, shared adult beverages with friends, went yard saleing, and enjoyed the lunker that my hubby caught.  I wondered how they would do while we were partying at Oak Hill and enjoying ourselves. 

When we came home Monday night I went out to check them.  Both feeders were still over half full!  The block was about 3/4 gone, and all my poultry was lazing around in the shade of the run, looking very contented with themseleves.  So, I declare the flock block "time release" feed a complete success. 

And I have to tell a silly duck story.  Of course the duck pond was filthy when we got back.  So I washed it out and was filling it up.  They are getting used to me because they came down close to watch what I was doing.  I changed the hose from stream to spray and they got right up to the edge of the pool.  I angled the hose a bit so that the spray would hit them and they were in heaven.  I have never seen a duck dance before, but they did!  They danced around in the spray and waggled their little butts.  I laughed until I cryed they were so funny.  We'll have to try that again.  I think the boys will enjoy watching them immensely. 

I hope everyone had as good a weekend as we did. Good food, good friends, good times.