Bobcat!

[Parkerchuuu]

Hello, I had just gotten my chicks today, and I’ve seen two bobcats on my night game cam. (Its barley 8 too!) I have them in a 50 gallon tub, which is inside of my chicken coop. I plan on letting them free range when they are fully feathered, is there anyway to protect them without actually killing the bobcat?(Its illegal in my city!)

 

[BirdLeaf]

You could get a pair of livestock guardian dogs and train them to protect the flock. Aside from that your best bet would be bobcat-proof the coop and lock them up during the bobcat’s active hours. Hope it works out for the best!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

A secured coop and run with electric fencing is most likely your best option.

I would not rely on the Bobcats just hunting at night, I would think they will hunt when opportunity arises and when hungry. Most of the activity would be from dusk til dawn, but I have seen them during the daytime too.

 

[Below frigid]

With Bobcats running around free ranging is probably not a good ideal. I would exterminate the problem, good fertilizer for your spring garden. Just take care of it and don't be telling everyone! Here we can exterminate predators after our livestock or when in season. I have bobcat boxer shorts! Taco's are good too!

 

[Stacinfl]

we had a bobcat take a chicken in the afternoon....(it was a "wild" chicken that adopted us- we hadn't built it a coop yet, we were cohabitating, she was so friendly...sad day)
I'm so anxious too because now we have baby chicks- and we built a hopefully predator proof coop/run. Best of luck!

 

[cajun41887]

Our heaviest chicken losses have been due to bobcat and a close second was to fox. ALL of our bobcat losses happened in BROAD daylight while we were home and we even witnessed some of the attacks. Just had a bobcat up at our barn today in broad daylight at 1pm while hubby was outside burning some branches and our kids were out playing in the yard (loudly I might add as 6 and 11 year old boys tend to do). Luckily we didn't lose anyone today, but I know this bobcat took one of our broody hens the other night and it was back a couple nights ago as evidenced by the tracks we found by our barn. It's legal (I think) to shoot them where I live, so we will try again this year to dispatch it as it's HUGE and definitely not afraid of people at all.

 

[mountain chicken]

some people out by me keep a few wild turkeys to free range along with peacocks . I was thinking of trying it but I remember when I was a kid . try getting chased by a peacock one of the most scariest things ever they are mean bite hard .

they claim they ward off the bears mountain lions and coyotes and any other predators that come around .

I found nail boards around the coop deter many predators they step on nails once and they think twice next time .

fish and wildlife officer showed me that trick even works around the trash can , just be sure to warn your trash man .

I also have barbed wire runs placed in certain areas of the woods . most of them are in the trails they use most . I have 5 acres that also helps slow them down too .

 

[peacockfarmer]

Here is my invention. note the solar powered raido very loud all day without batteries. the head swivels in the slightest wind night or day. I have 3 of these guys and I will have 4 shortly-
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/scarecrow-that-works-for-bobcat-coyote-and-cougar.1237364/

 

[mountain chicken]

we can shoot bears mt lion coyotes ect but the wildlife and game asks to use more easier tactics before using a shot gun
all the tips I learned from wildlife and game seem to work so
I can save ammo till it's truly needed .