A bear got 6/7 of my chickens...

[theoldchick]

If you are not in a hurry, you can wait until she goes broody and put a few hatching eggs under her. That way you don't have worry about the bonding process. Good luck and I hope you can keep the bear out of your yard!

 

[lazy gardener]

You might want to put electric fencing around your chicken and duck area. Dab a bit of peanut butter or bacon grease on the wire to give that bruin a nice little surprise.

 

[azygous]

LG is right. I was going to come back and do another follow up post, but she beat me to it.

I finally stopped the bear attacks on my chicken runs and coops by installing a hot wire and solar charger. I've watched with great satisfaction while a bear strolled up to the run, stuck its nose to the hot wire baited with peanut butter, did a very graceful 180 and hightailed it out of there never to return.

It's solved my bear problem. I just need to remember to turn it on.

 

[cmom]

If you do put up some electrical wire make sure the power supply is big enough to shock the bear. It will probably be back. I have electric around all of my pens and coops. When I have accidentally touched the wire it has made my heart skip a few beats. One thing to remember when you put up electric wire. A bears weighs quite a bit ,so if you don't get a large enough power supply the bear will barely feel the shock, if at all. Any critter that has come in contact with my electric wire doesn't come back to try it again. I have had mainly young coyotes in the spring go looking for a chicken dinner and touch the wire and I have heard them make a distress call so I know they made contact with the wire.

As for your girl, you could give her a friend. At first they may bicker but they will adjust and get to be best friends. I have a special coop for my special needs birds. They will squabble a bit at first but eventually they become nearly inseparable. Good luck.

 

[Noreaster Egger]

This story makes me want to go the hot wire route before my first attack. What height do you folks have the wire(s)?

 

[cmom]

I have 3 wires but you can put up as many as you want. Be sure to put a large enough power supply up so the critters will get a significant shock.

 

[cmom]

Also you can space the wires further apart or closer together.

 

[cmom]

Most stores such as Tractor Supply, Home Depot etc., will have everything you will need. I use the poly rope wire or you can use regular wire. Most important is a good ground. My ground rods are around 6 feet plus long. You can use one ground rod or put more in.

 

[Noreaster Egger]

I don't want to hijack this thread, but I'm curious to know what you used for wire and a power supply. I'll probably research this topic all week and price things out on various sites.

 

[cmom]

I would have to go look at the power supply but it is a 15 mile fence charger. This is not the one I have but it's very similar.
https://www.amazon.com/Zareba-EDC15...8-2-fkmr0&keywords=fence+15+acer+power+supply