And then there were 5...Lost Chicken

[JanetS]

When we (my husband, teenage daughter and I) decided to get chickens we did a lot of research. We wanted to keep our girls safe. Be built a strong coop and run. Patio stones sideways in the ground to provide digging, hardware cloth for strength and a roof over both coop and run. It has kept our girls nice and safe. When we let them out for some free range time we always watched over them.

Who could have know that a bobcat would jump over our 6 ft. fence, grab a chicken and be gone in seconds. Leaving behind a very upset teenager who had just lost her favorite chicken. The bobcat will be back for more. We will now be expanding so our girls will have a bigger run because they can no longer run free in our backyard...so sad.

 

[americana-lover]

Im so sorry! You just need to put a roof on top, so if the bobcat does try to jump, he would get stuck and realize there is no more food for him here

 

[redsoxs]

I think you are right - Mr. Bobcat will be back for additional chicken dinners. Do you know (or can you advertise for) any trappers in your area? It's difficult to be ever-vigilant and, while trapping will only get of that particular predator, now that he's had a taste and I think he needs to be removed. Good luck to you!

 

[JanetS]

I have a roof on the coop and run. They were out in the yard at the time. The Bobcat jumped over our 6 ft. privacy fence.

We will miss Nugget.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Like you said, the bob cat will be back. It can nab a chicken while your pouring a morning cup of coffee and be gone before anyone knows what is going on. If your property is cheek by jowl up against an area of cover that allows a bob cat to creep in close during broad daylight and patiently wait for a free rang chicken meal to walk right up to him, it will kill all of your chickens and it won't take it long. Clearing high grass and weeds right up to your property line will help keep bob cats at arms length. They don't feel safe if you can see them before they can see you.

If you build a stronger pen use "bob cat wire" chicken wire is only good for keepiong chickens inside a pen or keeping chickens outside a garden. A hungry bob cat will find it easy for him to rip right through chicken wire. Good luck.