Bobcat mitigation

[MikeK]

I'm having the same problem with pretty much the same setup. We have an 8 ft. deer fence around our orchard that the chickens range in. We're in the foothills- about 100 mi. east of Sonoma Co. We have lost two chickens to a bobcat. At least the one print I saw was pretty definitely a bobcat. I don't want to put them in a covered run. So- I would like to know what you may have finally done and whether or not it was effective. Mike

 

[BlackGiantMerlin]

As of last week, we have now lost the seventh of our original nine chickens, all to bobcats. For years our flock free-ranged by day in a large shaded walled and fenced in side yard (and were locked up at night safely in their coop), but after the first bobcat attack we built a new Fort Knox. We took a walk-in 7 x 9 dog run and reinforced it from top to bottom (covering the entire top) - and adding smaller mesh, wiring, cables, ties, etc. all over -- you name it we did it to keep them safe.

Somehow a bobcat still got one of them thru the fencing after we first built it. Then we added yet more smaller mesh - 16 mos later fast forward to last week and the bobcat got another one thru the fence! We had chain link, topped with 2" square wire, dissecting the openings to be little more than 1 - 1.5" tops. Now we have added a third layer of chicken wire on the inside of everything. It's so upsetting when your chickens are your pets, they are so vulnerable and when you do everything to protect them and this still happens....

We know it's a bobcat because we've seen it each time, and it isn't the least bit scared of us.

We live in a far northeast semi-rural area of Phoenix. And we thought coyotes would be the problem but I'm sure our dogs keep them away. These cats are different - stealth and very swift. I'm beginning to think we need a climate controlled human shelter to keep them safe here.

I'm curious to hear what kind of fencing others have used to keep out wild cats ( ? )

 

[knjinnm]

Quote:
Put 1/2 inch hardware cloth on the fence at least 2 feet from the ground. Chickens are stupid and inquisitive, if a critter walks up to the wire a chicken will check it out and the cat, raccoon will reach in and grab it if the wire isn't small enough.

 

[rockinpaints]

Good luck!

 

[fishman65]

that is a big bobcat! forget trap and grab gun!!

 

[babalubird]

Someone here is on the right track suggesting a good livestock guardian dog. Is that a possibility for you? Livestock guardian dogs are specific breeds like pyranese, anatolian, ackbash, etc. Best to raise from puppy around your livestock you want guarded including chickens.

I don't have guineas yet but I plan to. You are supposed to be able to train them to come back to a coop at night. There is a book available about keeping, training guineas and a website of info, guineafowl.org, as well as a few others. You can ask questions there. I believe it's run by the same person who wrote the book, which is also available through that website.

 

[BlackGiantMerlin]

Thanks for the feedback all -- regarding the hardware cloth, we do have a couple of pieces by their watering areas and will add more--- but have you (has anyone ?) experienced a bobcat climbing atop of wiring? We wonder if we need to reinforce the top (crafted with steel electrical piping, cable and steel 2" mesh) - It's solid but would give with a little weight - not sure it's enough to deter one of these cats.

The dog idea has crossed our minds, we have four big dogs already, I'm sure they keep the coyotes out. Even with a trained guardian it seems a cat might strike when they sleep.

When we allowed our chickens to free range, they always came back to the coop (we locked up at night) on their own as soon as it was dusk - I thought that was just natural for all chickens, but perhaps not.

Again, thanks all for the feedback! Chicken owners are so helpful!!

 

[Diamond Wire Farms]

The bobcat may be using trees to cross your fences. Any tree within 10 feet of the fenceline could be used as a ladder.

I watched a bobcat investigate our chicken run one day through the window. I was about to go fix the problem when our Toulouse Gander charged around the corner and bit the bobcat on the butt. The bobcat jumped about 3 feet in the air and ran off. I put out trail cams and traps. That cat has NEVER been back! You might consider adding a few large, loud guard geese to your flock as sentinels.

 

[BlackGiantMerlin]

Wow, do all of your big birds just free range?
What about other predators, i.e. mountain lions, wolves, pack of coyotes?
Wouldn't it be rough for those birds in a desert climate?
We are fortunate to have lots of large trees and shade, and can certainly put out a wading pool.
We used to have one out all the time when our flocked free-ranged, and we sometimes had visits from a great-horned owl taking a dip. He never once bothered the chickens either.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
They can only use cage traps in Cali these days