Bobcats

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dbolak

dbolak

In the Brooder
7 Years
Jan 27, 2012
75
0
39
North of Dallas, TX
For those who have Bobcats threatening your ducks. How do you protect them? I have lost almost all my ducks this year. I have tried numerous enclosures and cages.

We did catch one in a live trap but then found another at 8:20AM in the yard and it just hoped up on our six foot fence, looked at us, flicked its tail and jumped down into the neighbors yard.

We have resorted to bringing the two left in the garage at night in a dog crate. I don't want to get more ducks until I have a shelter that will protect them. I assume I will need metal fabric and 2X4s.

Any thoughts?

Thanks ahead of time
 
Try contacting a local trapper in your area....They could be of big help catching the other one(s).

For the coop typically using 1/2 inch hardware cloth secured over all openings is the best. Also you need to "skirt" the outside with wire layed on the ground to stop diggers. An electric fence around the coop is even another step up.
 
The previous poster is correct in calling in a trapper. Bobcats are smart and hard to catch unless they are extra hungry. Bobcats will keep coming back until the food source is gone.

If you do call a trapper, tell him as much information as possible about the schedule of the cat ( food source, time of sight, size, actions about human presence and the like. Some trappers may come and catch it for free, ask around your area.

You may also consider calling your local game and fish office. They may come out and trap the cat(s) for you.
 
Two Great Pyrenees who let nothing two or four legged into our property unless we tell them it is ok. Our male even runs off the doves who try and land.

Ducks, chickens, geese, rabbits and young ones growing out too around here.
 
There are bobcats in our area but I have not seen any here yet. We have foxes, coyotes, hawks, raccoons, and we have seen those.

I suppose I am the livestock guard animal. We have some fenced areas without tops, and I spend most of the time with the ducks when they are in those areas (I tend the gardens and do outdoor chores while we're outside together).

When I need to be in the house for long, or away, they are in the day pen, which has fencing top, bottom and sides.

There is also a BYC forum specifically about dealing with predators and pests.
 
Last edited:
organick said:
Try contacting a local trapper in your area....They could be of big help catching the other one(s).

For the coop typically using 1/2 inch hardware cloth secured over all openings is the best. Also you need to "skirt" the outside with wire layed on the ground to stop diggers. An electric fence around the coop is even another step up.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. Calling a trapper may be the best plan. Years ago at another house we had a bobcat getting our chickens. We had to keep them in an enclosure that was completely covered with hardware cloth. Lost a couple to the bobcat and a few to a mountain lion there before we stopped letting them free range. They had to be locked up in the hen house with its covered run 24/7 after the cats came. Bobcats are very clever and will repeatedly check the birds enclosure so anything you make for the birds should be lockable and very secure.
 
We had foxes. Just as deadly to ducks or other small livestock. We had to call in a trapper to get them under control. $150 each. He caught 3. I watched him real closely and I think I can do it myself from now on.
 
I second the pair of Great Pyrenees. We have 2, they keep coyotes, foxes, skunks, owls, hawk, eagles and more from eating our birds. My birds are 100% free range, no enclosures. A pair of Gyps will keep a big cat away, they are known for tearing apart mountain lions. But generally, a predator will think twice about a quick meal if they have to battle two 100 pound dogs that don't want it near. Make sure you have a safe coop for them at night. The dogs still need to sleep!
 
My Grandfather used to soak raw chicken pieces with feathers in syrup of ipecac and then leave them outside the chicken coop during predator problems. The fox or bobcat was supposed to eat the chicken and then get very sick. He said it would usually keep them from coming back. If they did come back, he would rely on a more permanent and lethal solution.
 

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