Good luck,

however...raccoons are excellent tunnelers that have dug under the sides of coops 'round my neck of the woods.

I built my coop of salvaged 2inch rough-cut plank boards for walls, roof and doors, plus a layer of metal on the roof. The dual doors slide on a rail and latch at center with a swivel handle. There are also drop lockpins at outside lower corners. It won't stop a bear attack but the 'coons never made it in.

My birds free range no fencing by day and go in the coop on their own at dusk so shutting them in takes no time at all. I've put away several 'coons that came down in broad daylight to hide under my maple trees and watch for a laying hen to exit the coop. Sometimes the 'coons would look at me while they hid 15 feet away next to a maple so the hen wouldn't see them. They ain't the brightest animals and they'd still be there after I walked upstairs to grab the shotgun. They are tough animals and it pains me to put them down. I don't blame the 'coons for being predators but we're over run with them and even though I'm now officially vegan (my wife is only vegetarian), I'll put down a coon to keep the hens.

10:30PM the other night it was hot and we had the door open. My wife went downstairs and walked up on one inside the house eating out of a cat food dish. 'Coons in the house ain't cool. I hope they split out and put some distance between me and them. Cute buggers but I don't trust anything wearing a mask ya know?

About 4AM the other morning I stepped onto the deck and found a family of 6 'coons at the edge staring at 3 of my cats staring back. I spoke and the mama growled as she led the 5 away and across the road. That was the third time in a week they got bold. One walked up within a couple feet of me and so I figure the New Jersey transplant neighbors been feeding them and they expect nothing to fear. City folk, been here for decades now but ain't got their eyes wide open yet.

I've never heard of a 'coon attacking a house cat but a hungry family of 6 can't be trusted. Something attacked one of my cats a while back, bit him in the face and took some of his tail. The cat is my prize hunter called Zer and although he lost a tooth in the fight he survived. One day he came home with all the ribs broken on one side. That vet bill cost me $500 and he's well worth it. I'll never know what did that to him, probably hit by a car. Keeping animals in the country is challenging. Watching them live free as sentient beings just like me is a spiritual experience. Evolving vegan has set me free.

Edit added: Hey groovy, I just spotted the wood floor in yer coop! Awesome!

Have a nice day.

Woodchuck Pirate
aka Raymond J Raupers Jr USA
woodchuckpirate.com