•1 min read•from Raising Chickens or Other Poultry for Eggs, Meat, or as Pets
Caught a raccoon in my coop
Our take
In a heart-wrenching tale of feathered friends and unexpected mayhem, one chicken lover faced a raccoon invasion that turned tragic. After the crafty critter claimed the lives of several beloved chickens, including a cherished bantam that had a knack for perching on shoulders, the situation escalated to a dramatic confrontation. Unable to use his rifle without endangering neighbors, he resorted to a desperate measure, striking the raccoon with his weapon until his wife intervened. Though his rifle is now damaged and hangs in memory of his lost girls, the experience has brought a cathartic release. This story highlights the deep bond between humans and their feathered companions, showcasing the lengths one will go to protect those they love, even in the face of chaos.
And I beat it to death. I couldn’t get a shot that wouldn’t go into the neighbors property and it had already killed one chicken. So I grabbed my rifle by the barrel and hit it with the stock until my wife pulled me off. The raccoon visited the night prior and killed four chickens, including my favorite bantam that would always perch on my shoulder. This night it killed my second favorite chicken that would hop in my lap whenever I crouched down. I thought I secured my coop after the first night, but when I caught the coon in the act I figured out where the entry point was. It has since been secured. I damaged my rifle to the point it’s inoperable but whatever. Gonna hang it on the wall in memory of my lost girls. I don’t know where I’m going with this but it feels cathartic to share