BB Gun vs. Pellet Gun

[RedTailRanch6]

Okay, I did a lot of searching around here and know this is a not-too uncommon topic but I could not find my answer. Let me get a few things out of the way:
• The chickens are inside of a 4-walled, floored, roofed, and locked hen house that is in turn inside of a well-built run. I have dug down 1.5 feet and laid chicken wire so the run is sealed top, bottom, and sides.
• Despite this, I have woken up to find a Bobcat right outside the run, looking in lustily. (this is about 30 feet from my back door). I have also found some raccoon prints. They have now been in the run for 4 nights, with two known predator visits already.
• I really DON'T want to kill. I have a .22 rifle and a .40 handgun for that. I also don't want to seriously maim if I can avoid it.
• I already have a .177 Gamo break-barrel pellet gun.

So my question is this: would a BB gun work as a pain-based deterrent for predators (as large as a Bobcat).

My concern with my Pellet Gun is that I imagine it will break the skin, and a slow death from an infected lead pellet is not how I want to treat a Bobcat. I am in their hood, and I brought them food. I can't blame them really...but that doesn't mean I don't want to deter them.

Any insights welcome!

 

[waddles99]

Why not use an airsoft gun? They use round plastic balls, and don't really do much damage. If you get a higher FPS gun, maybe 500-600 FPS, that should be enough to give a larger animal a message. We used to shoot each other with airsoft guns as a game, and a 450 FPS gun is enough to leave a pretty big welt on your leg through pants.

 

[bikebrainiac]

I am with you on not wanting to use a pellet gun. I deal with coyotes and not bobcats but the BB gun is a nice deterrent. The coyotes are fairly smart and they seem to figure out soon enough that it is no bueno to try to get inside my chicken run.
I like that airgun idea as well though have never used one.

 

[16 paws]

I am with you on not wanting to use a pellet gun. I deal with coyotes and not bobcats but the BB gun is a nice deterrent. The coyotes are fairly smart and they seem to figure out soon enough that it is no bueno to try to get inside my chicken run.
I like that airgun idea as well though have never used one.

I use a bb gun.
I have had bobcats take chickens right thru a chain link fence when they are free ranging. Just saw one about a week ago on the other side of the fence looking at the chickens and drooling. I just scared it off by going down closer. They always get away before I can land a shot on them but I fire anyway to scare them away. You can also get an electric fence.
Good luck
Marie

 

[RedTailRanch6]

Thank you all for the advice so far. I have a friend who runs an outdoor airsoft arena, so I am going to get his insights. I know he has biodegradable BBs, which is another major plus.

I imagine that a 1000 round per minute stream of 450+ fps BBs will be a good deterrent, at least for the time being. Long term, I definitely want to make some electric fence available....and some motion sensing lights/cameras. And a guard tower. No one is touching my chicks.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! Electrified poultry netting is great; from Premier1supplies.com. They have great products and advice. Three strands of electric tape would be less expensive and maybe secure. You can't be out there 24/7 with any weapon, so fencing is a better option, IMO. And I'd be shooting to kill, because I don't think that a determined predator will give up easily over a being hit with a pop gun. Mary

 

[16 paws]

Welcome! Electrified poultry netting is great; from Premier1supplies.com. They have great products and advice. Three strands of electric tape would be less expensive and maybe secure. You can't be out there 24/7 with any weapon, so fencing is a better option, IMO. And I'd be shooting to kill, because I don't think that a determined predator will give up easily over a being hit with a pop gun. Mary

Hi Mary,
What do you mean by electric tape?

 

[Folly's place]

Electrified fencing can be wire, rope, or tape, set up in multiple horizontal strands to deter predators or keep livestock contained. Poultry netting will keep adult chickens in and ground predators out more effectively. Google the catalog! Mary

 

[WYNot]

Until your chickens start eating all these BBs that are now all over the yard. Even the biodegradable ones take time.

As others have said, reinforce your yard/run/coop. If you are going to shoot something then do so humanely and end the critter quickly and cleanly.

Thank you all for the advice so far. I have a friend who runs an outdoor airsoft arena, so I am going to get his insights. I know he has biodegradable BBs, which is another major plus.

I imagine that a 1000 round per minute stream of 450+ fps BBs will be a good deterrent, at least for the time being.  Long term, I definitely want to make some electric fence available....and some motion sensing lights/cameras.  And a guard tower.  No one is touching my chicks.  

 

[RedTailRanch6]

Welcome! Electrified poultry netting is great; from Premier1supplies.com. They have great products and advice. Three strands of electric tape would be less expensive and maybe secure. You can't be out there 24/7 with any weapon, so fencing is a better option, IMO. And I'd be shooting to kill, because I don't think that a determined predator will give up easily over a being hit with a pop gun. Mary

Thank you, Mary. I will definitely look into that. I actually have an order on the way from them as we speak (movable goat fencing) so will see about getting another one coming.

Like I said, I know the run is secure (though I imagine that a Bobcat could eventually get through chicken wire) and the coop is VERY secure, but just want to find a way to keep the predators away since it is very near to my house. I also have two dogs, two young goat kids, and a cat. Accordingly, the less predators I have around, the better.