Bobcat was in my yard, help my girls!!!!!!

[freemare]

I have been keeping chickens now for over a year and have had a lot of fun so far. I love my girls and when my renter in the back said there was a bobcat in my yard trying to get into the coop, when he drove in from work around 10pm. I was like "THERE IS A WHAT"!!!! We dont get to many animals on my 2 acer land, due to it being fenced all the way around. With horses and dogs...etc, and for what ever reason this bobcat has now decided my girls are on his list of things to make for dinner. So i need some help. I know my coop is just about safe, there are few things I know i need to do to make sure its bobcat proof. However the outside is what needs a lot of help.


My plan was the put more t-pots along the fence then put large 6" across logs around the bottom. Run a hot wire on top of the fence and the bottom and plant bushes all the way around so its harder to dig. Do you think this will be enough. I dont have a lot of money to spend on high end run as the girls normally dont have any problems, as they are in the coop at night and only running around in the run in daytime.

You can see my stuff that I got got to help keep this bobcat out. I also got shavings for the winter.

The chickens love to watch me do dog agility

Made my first sliding door, this is still in the works. Just started to paint the coop. The coop was already here when we moved in. I just started to fix it up.

 

[Steve J]

I have to light up the area around my pen to keep predators away. Don't know what kind of dogs you have, but I have 5 and the best two for alerting on anything about, are a coonhound and a smooth haired collie.

 

[freemare]

I have to light up the area around my pen to keep predators away. Don't know what kind of dogs you have, but I have 5 and the best two for alerting on anything about, are a coonhound and a smooth haired collie.

Ya, thats what I thought as well. I thought maybe the solar power ones as I dont have any power out there. I have a aussie, and she does not bark. She will look out side but wont tell me if there is anything there.

 

[Steve J]

A good coonhound will smell a bobcat and go after it with a thunderous barking. I really like my big 80 pound black and tan, for his predator deterrence. Plus he has never shown the slightest interest in bothering my chickens.

 

[3riverschick]

Seriously I'm not kidding this guy has been doing it successfully for 30 years!
Http://www.predatorpee.com
Best,
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

Hi Steve J,
we bred smooth Collies for years ! aren't they just the best? we have one old girl left now she's 13 years and I will miss her when she's gone. the other day one of my chickens got out and I thought I was going to lose her to the road .but my old smooth collie girl took after her and ran her along the garage wall pinning her gently against a door well until I could pick her up. great dogs !why doesn't the original poster let one of his dogs roam at night in the backyard. Might be a good idea.
Karen and the light Sussex in Western Pennsylvania
Bellwether Collies ( retired 2009)

 

[Folly's place]

Electric poultry fencing, or electric tape fencing, can be a good choice here. With electric fencing already available, I'd go with that. You can 'bait' a strand of the fence with something yummy that the cat will lick, and scare him away. Also, it might be possible to trap and shoot, but I'd find out what your state regulations are about that. Mary

 

[Steve J]

Levi, the smooth collie is actually more alert than Barkley the hound. He patrols tirelessly and once he starts barking the hound is on it, as well as the rest. I live in a remote area , with woods all around me, without my dogs, I'm sure I wouldn't have a chicken left.

 

[Taylorbrood]

I have been keeping chickens now for over a year and have had a lot of fun so far. I love my girls and when my renter in the back said there was a bobcat in my yard trying to get into the coop, when he drove in from work around 10pm. I was like "THERE IS A WHAT"!!!! We dont get to many animals on my 2 acer land, due to it being fenced all the way around. With horses and dogs...etc, and for what ever reason this bobcat has now decided my girls are on his list of things to make for dinner. So i need some help. I know my coop is just about safe, there are few things I know i need to do to make sure its bobcat proof. However the outside is what needs a lot of help.


My plan was the put more t-pots along the fence then put large 6" across logs around the bottom. Run a hot wire on top of the fence and the bottom and plant bushes all the way around so its harder to dig. Do you think this will be enough. I dont have a lot of money to spend on high end run as the girls normally dont have any problems, as they are in the coop at night and only running around in the run in daytime.

You can see my stuff that I got got to help keep this bobcat out. I also got shavings for the winter.

The chickens love to watch me do dog agility

Made my first sliding door, this is still in the works. Just started to paint the coop. The coop was already here when we moved in. I just started to fix it up.

wondering how this bobcat situation has played out