Bear deterrent/prevention

[AlexEve]

Howdy
Up here in Canada, it is nearing bear season. In September through mid October, we usually have a few black bears running around my town. I am quite sure they will be attracted to the smell of chicken feed, and if not definitely the smell of my birds. I’ve read that Pine-sol will deter a bear, it I’m not sure if that’s an effective method. What do you guys do for preventing bear attacks on your flock?

 

[Vickischics]

I'm not familiar with that problem, Thank God. But, only use Cloth wire on your coop, fence your coop with a high voltage electric wire like 7000j.
Lock them up tight.
I'm sure others with more experience will respond. You can also search Bear Attacks on the BYC site for more answers.
Good Luck

 

[Folly's place]

Really good electric fencing!
Mary

 

[aart]

. I’ve read that Pine-sol will deter a bear, it I’m not sure if that’s an effective method.

I would not count on that.
Hot wire is the only thing that will deter bears.

Here's some reading for ya:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/1606143/?q=bear&t=post&c[title_only]=1&o=relevance

 

[RojoMarz]

We also have bears. In addition to the electric fence suggestion, I remove the chicken feeder each night as I don't want to give them any additional incentive to come to the coop (or our house).

 

[cmom]

I know there are bears in Florida but I have never seen one on my property. I do have electric wires around my coops and pens. You can also make unwelcome mats to put around your coop in the more vulnerable places.

 

[chknlittle17]

I know there are bears in Florida but I have never seen one on my property. I do have electric wires around my coops and pens. You can also make unwelcome mats to put around your coop in the more vulnerable places.

I had not seen any bears either until a neighbor across the way started feeding them.

 

[Folly's place]

There are crazy people everywhere!
Will your DNR, or someone, have a talk with this neighbor! Is it legal to feed them?
Mary

 

[mvs21]

I am new to chicken-keeping and am located in Northwest CT. We definitely have bears around here, and I accidentally came upon one at my coop one night when I went to put the chickens to bed (from the run into the coop; they do not free range). It was already darkish at that point and I could not see him well, but he ran into the woods and sat there watching me for a while (I could see only his eyes with my flashlight!), then when I left, he came back and threw some heavy bags of sand and dirt around, but didn't damage the coop or get in. Then 2 evenings ago, I went up to the coop around 7pm and he was wandering around again! I yelled loudly and banged around, and he ambled off, but did not seem scared of me in the least. Does anyone know of good electric-fence kits or other places to find/assemble one?

 

[aart]

Does anyone know of good electric-fence kits or other places to find/assemble one?

Premiere1 has good stuff and support.

Here's a good article:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/a-treatise-on-electric-fences-for-poultry.72229/

and thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/electric-fence-basics.1398976/post-23010991