Bobcat

[josephdad]

i dont suggest killing maybe just move away @SusannasMom

 

[SusannasMom]

i dont suggest killing maybe just move away @SusannasMom

bobcats are EVERYWHERE

 

[cmom]

I eliminated a bobcat but it killed 14 birds and made the mistake of coming back for more. Since I have seen other bobcats.

 

[cmom]

I have electric wires around my coops and pens, good heavy duty netting covering the pens and concrete under the gates all due to losses from predators in the past. They will learn the electric wires are there and once they do I think they teach their young that whatever is on the other side of the hot wires is not worth getting zapped for. I do have a very powerful fence charger but I want whatever predator that touches the wire to know it. I also have my fence grounded so whatever touches the hot wires and the fence will know it.

 

[McChooky]

I've seen Bobcat and Fox during the day around my property in person and on my game cameras day and night.
I lost 2 chickens last year while Free Ranging.
The first was in March at sunset when hens were going into their coop. It was a Fox.
The second loss was in June a few minutes after I let them out, about an hour before sunset. I was still outside when I heard the commotion.
I was on the other side of my property, about a hundred yards away.
The chickens were near the woods , edge of my lawn.
By the time I got there it ran into the woods with the hen. I believe it was the Bobcat. The Bobcat seems more brazen, it doesn't run away when I see it on my property.
I keep my 2 Flocks of chickens in a 10'x 20'x 6' high dog kennel's most of the day. I've never had a Fox or Bobcat jump over.
I let them out an hour before sunset daily, weather permitting.
If you Free Range you'll eventually lose Poultry.
I Free Ranged an hour or two daily for nearly 3 years before I lost a chicken. I only lost 2 so far.
If you Free Range sunrise to sunset expect to lose a lot more.
Fox and Bobcat have a territory. You could trap and shoot to protect your property. But it's temporary. Another will replace it. So it will be an ongoing process. Set trap, catch, shoot and repeat.
I don't know how to keep them away from my property without surrounding the area with a 6 foot high fence. It will need a skirt if you also have Fox.View attachment 2473528View attachment 2473529View attachment 2473530
I'm willing to accept that I'll lose a chicken once in a while to my limited Free Ranging. I keep anywhere from 3 to 10 Pullets/Hens for eggs. Any extra eggs go to friends, neighbors and coworkers.
I currently have 5 Pullets and 3 Hens. GC

Beautiful place you have there! I love the camera!

 

[McChooky]

I eliminated a bobcat but it killed 14 birds and made the mistake of coming back for more. Since I have seen other bobcats.

If I didn't go to extreme measure to protect mine I'd wind up with none fast. I only keep couple layers is all. If I had a lot of birds like you I'd probably have more predators and have to do it myself.

 

[Swbertrand1]

Kill or live-trap and relocate. I prefer the 2nd option as all creatures have their place in the food chain...

 

[McChooky]

Kill or live-trap and relocate. I prefer the 2nd option as all creatures have their place in the food chain...

I'd rather do without and make their coops safer yes!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Kill or live-trap and relocate. I prefer the 2nd option as all creatures have their place in the food chain...

Relocating isn't a great idea. Most ttimes the wildlife people will come and take them somewhere specific. Just releasing an animal yourself usually will result in a trapsavy predator for someone else

i dont suggest killing maybe just move away @SusannasMom

To move because of a predator is ridiculous.

 

[Swbertrand1]

Relocating isn't a great idea. Most ttimes the wildlife people will come and take them somewhere specific. Just releasing an animal yourself usually will result in a trapsavy predator for someone else



To move because of a predator is ridiculous.

That's what I meant. I don't trap predators like Bobcats, but that would be interesting...

I think that what josephdad meant was move the predator away, not move yourself...