:Bobcat this morning at

[Shooter3866]

Had a chicken taken around 8:30 this morning. He/she actually lunged at me. Then ran off. Any advice? I know its part of raising chickens. Garland Texas area.

 

[nuthatched]

Besides calling fish and game and preparing to dispatch if you see it again? It will be back.

 

[mowin]

Keep a rifle handy. It knows where to shop for groceries, and it will be back.
Sorry about your chicken..

 

[cmom]

I agree with the others. It will be back. One night a bobcat killed 14 of my birds. It made the mistake of coming back. I have seen others since but they haven't made any attempts but I do have electric wires around my coops and pens, good heavy duty netting covering my pens and concrete under the gates, all due to losses from predators in the past. Lessons learned the hard way. Good luck...

 

[neo71665]

.22 rifle does the trick if you are handy with a gun, a shot gun does the trick if you aint. I'd get a live trap out and bait it with some cat food. Next time it comes back it will be wary of you now and you prolly won't see it.

I think I remember Texas having a list of trappers that will come out and remove problem animals for free. Contact your DNR and see if anybody local to you or willing to do it. I know somehow I got on the local word of mouth and have people calling me all the time to trap problem animals now. I don't mind doing it but some people seem to think I only run one trap and it's my job to sit by the phone waiting for their call only.

 

[Shooter3866]

.22 rifle does the trick if you are handy with a gun, a shot gun does the trick if you aint. I'd get a live trap out and bait it with some cat food. Next time it comes back it will be wary of you now and you prolly won't see it.

I think I remember Texas having a list of trappers that will come out and remove problem animals for free. Contact your DNR and see if anybody local to you or willing to do it. I know somehow I got on the local word of mouth and have people calling me all the time to trap problem animals now. I don't mind doing it but some people seem to think I only run one trap and it's my job to sit by the phone waiting for their call only.

Thanks for the info. Living within city limits .22 is out. I did purchase a nice air rifle. I hate to set a trap out and end up with a skunk.

 

[neo71665]

Unless it's a real serious air rifle it aint gonna do much with a bobcat but make it mad. They do make air rifles that will put medium game down but it's not one you gonna find at your local wal-mart and cost as much as a real rifle.

 

[McChooky]

Had a chicken taken around 8:30 this morning. He/she actually lunged at me. Then ran off. Any advice? I know its part of raising chickens. Garland Texas area.

Not everyone has the skills, time or money to make predator proof coops and runs .I get that.But its the only way you'll prevent losses and discourage predators from lurking around your house.Not only is it frightening to encounter a predator it can be dangerous .I'm sorry for the terrible experience you just had with the bob cat. I hope you can up put an electric fence to keep it away. Death and mayhem doesn't have to be part of raising chickens. Once predators find they can't kill your chickens they hunt somewhere else.I'm sorry for your loss and hope you stay safe!

 

[allenw]

It must have the feral cat population knocked down in the area if it's after your chickens.

Tom's make a circuit of their territory and will show about once a week, a resident female can be a pain when she finds easy pickings. A cage trap with a feather hanging in the back so it moves in the breeze can be enough to catch it. A snare pole will work to remove it from the trap but be careful they don't have much lung capacity and will expire quickly if it's too tight or on too long.