My neighbor Earl bet me $20 I'd lose my first flock to a raccoon within a month

Ryan Robinson · 2026-09-16T12:25:05.025342+00:00

Back in 2019 I set up my first coop in the backyard here in Knoxville, and Earl from two doors down came over, looked at my latch, and just laughed. He told me a coon would pop that cheap hook latch open inside a week and I figured he was being dramatic. About 10 days later I walked out at 5am to eight hens turned into five, and the latch was bent wide open. I re-did everything with carabiner clips that weekend and haven't lost a bird since, and now I always check the latch twice before dark. What's everyone using for latches these days, clips or the sliding bolt kind?

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My neighbor Earl bet me $20 I'd lose my first flock to a raccoon within a month | Backyard Chicken Keepers - HW Forums