A BEAR DESTROYED MY COOP WHAT DO I DO

[humblehillsfarm]

Please help! How do I rebuild and bear proof a coop over night!? Even if I put them in my garage, my coop was stronger than my flimsy garage door. None of my hens were killed by some miracle. I’m shaking like a leaf. What do I do?

 

[Tre3hugger]

Wow I am sorry that happened. Maybe around windows, you put nails facing out that stab/deter the bear? In some areas your wildlife department will give out electric fencing when there is a bear problem. A hot wire around the whole area might do the trick. Just wanted to say take a deep breath. Thank goodness your girls are OK! I am sure someone will be along soon with some more advice soon.

 

[Punkybrewster]

Thats what i was thinking.
For now, board it up and hot wire all around it. 3 strands until you can repair everything.

Nice sturdy coop youve got. Its still standing!

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Thats what i was thinking.
For now, board it up and hot wire all around it. 3 strands until you can repair everything.

Nice sturdy coop youve got. Its still standing!

It was Amish built but I see now the coop was nailed together and not screwed. I wonder if that will make a difference? I am desperately calling neighbors but no one is answering. I have to go to work today and my boss isnt picking up her phone either. I’ve never set up electric in my life. By some second miracle they didn’t get into my bee hives!!!

 

[RobertaD1]

The fence is pretty strait forward. Tons of info on the internet.... just make sure you are grounded well and your circuit is complete. Screw your coop together.... close them up when you go to work guess. I think you have a pretty good coop there to withstand a bear!

 

[humblehillsfarm]

The fence is pretty strait forward. Tons of info on the internet.... just make sure you are grounded well and your circuit is complete. Screw your coop together.... close them up when you go to work guess. I think you have a pretty good coop there to withstand a bear!

I was able to call off thank goodness. Heading to TSC for electric fencing right after I board up the coop. The coop was nailed together but I hope 3” wood screws will help.

 

[RobertaD1]

They will help you get everything you need. Do not accept help from anyone who doesnt know how to set it up.

 

[Punkybrewster]

Im from upstate NY and had one. Amish built coops are awesome but yea. Nails. Go get some screws and reenforce it.

You may as well put electric around the hives while youre at it.

 

[cmom]

Electric wire is good but also you need a good fence charger so the bear will know when it touches the wire. The more joules the stronger the shock. A bear has thick fur so bait the wire with something like peanut butter so it will touch the wire with it's nose or tongue so it will feel the shock and not come back. I would put some peanut butter in a few places on the wire. There are place where I have some wood with long staples sticking through for a fox I have been seeing lately around my coops as well as electric wire but for a bear you would need some spikes. Good luck.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...orks-60-mile-ac-powered-low-impedance-charger
http://bearsmartdurango.org/unwelcome-mats/
Here is a picture I came across. If you make a bear mat make sure to use good sturdy nails or screws. I would make it bigger than the one in the picture.

I also came across this advice.
"Unwelcome mats are basically boards full of nails pointing up, that are placed in front of doors and windows to discourage bears from entering buildings. They are simple and inexpensive to make.
The sheet of plywood must be large enough so that a bear cannot lean from one edge and reach the door or window, and should ideally extend past the sides of the door or window by 60 cm (2 ft).
A 4x4 sheet of plywood would provide minimal protection for a single doorway, while a 4x8 sheet will be needed for most sliding patio doors. Use the thickest plywood possible and galvanized roofing nails with the large flat head. The nails should be long enough to stick out of the wood 2 - 2.5 cm (¾ - 1 in).
If the nails are too long and not strong enough, the bears will discover that they can simply bend them over and step on them. The nails should be nailed into the board about 5 cm (2 in) apart so that there is no way a bear can get his paw on the board.
The sheet of plywood also has to be secured so that the bear cannot simply push it out of its way. If it is placed on a wooden surface, a couple of nails pounded through the plywood should secure it. If the mat is placed on dirt, pieces of rebar can be pounded through the corners into the ground to secure it.
Caution tape should be placed around the area of the mat so that people do not accidentally step on the nails."

You can also put boards across the windows with the nails sticking out. Electric wire is probably the best option.

 

[cmom]

On TV not long ago I saw on a program a fellow making a unwelcome mat for grisly bears. He used big nails and surprisingly the bear did bend some of the nails but it kept the bear out of the cabin. His unwelcome mat was about the size of a full sheet of plywood.