Bobcats

[Capvin]

To: the Fox: Thanks for your reply. The run is completely enclosed without any openings. In addition the wire hardware cloth goes down into the ground almost two feet with an additional application of wire cloth ythat goes out horizontally almost three feet. I dont believe that anything could burrow in. My inclination right now is to build a seperate perimeter fence 48" high that would be electric. It would have its own gate and could be turned on and off when required. This is our first time raising chicks and at first I thought that it was going to be easy. Now with the predator situation my wife is beside herself. She told me that she was tempted to sit out there at night and I told her that would be a good long term solution. That did not help anything.

 

[PortageGirl]

Wow, you really have that 'digging under' question licked I'd say, and it does look really secure. I have to say that I'm a country girl (old though so not such a girl!) who has a very tight coop, but beyond that I'm philosophical about losses. Not everyone understands that attitude, but when you grow up with farm animals (cows (dairy and beef), goats, pigs, chickens and horses and ponies too) beyond doing the best you can at any given time, and balancing the risks, you then accept what comes. ...though back in the day we didn't have neighbors so close so shooting varmints is more difficult now!

A lot of people find that harsh, but it is what it is. You have obviously done a great job and are going to do even more with the electric.

One problem I see with a 48 inch tall woven electric netting is that it will do a super job of keeping out any climbing varmints and possibly bears, it will probably discourage pigs because they'll nudge it with their noses first and that's pretty sensitive... but a bobcat will simply jump over it. Plus it's more expensive to buy and operate.

With your setup, (which is beautiful BTW) I still say 2 strands, right on what you have there, 3 if you really feel strongly about it, would be more practical if your biggest worry is indeed bobs. Either way, keep us posted because you have put so much thought into it all.

Oh yeah, chickens ARE easy to keep, and fun too as I guess you know. And educational too! Where else would you get so much practice building Fort Knox style enclosures and using every bit of ingenuity you can manage to figure out how to keep them alive?

 

[theFox]

Capvin, I'll take your word for the corrugated roofing having its corrugations properly closed off, hopefully the area between those wooden supports and the roof is also sealed.

However if those are barrel locks on those doors given cover of darkness a raccoon can operate them. They need additional attention.

Now for doing the electrification I'd go around the coop and run without adding a fence and I'd use the metal wire mesh of the run as one of the grounds. Place a hot wire at 6" and at 12" intervals until you reach the top of the run. I'd be tempted to use barbed wire for the 30" and 42" strand (I actually hate barbed wire but bears are nasty). You put the hot wire up using stand off insulators. You only need a relatively small energizer, however since you are going to be relying on an electrical device you should make sure it has a battery backup. Be certain that each wire run has multiple feeds going to it (nothing like pulling one wire and disabling the entire fence).

An inoperative electric fence is useless.

 

[Capvin]

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[Capvin]

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[Capvin]

Well, I have decided to put an electric fence up. I kind of like the idea of using my existing fence, but I am still doing some research and am still considering putting up a separate perimeter electric fence with 5 wire strands. Three hot and two ground. What my real question is right now is the area under the roof. Several of you have mentioned that and I am wondering what could possibly climb up the sides and get in that small and area. The actual spaces are, for the most part, less then an inch. What should be my concern??

 

[Capvin]

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[Capvin]

Well, I have definately decided to put up some kind of electric fence. I do like your (the Fox) idea of using the existing wire cage as part of the new electric fence but I am also still considering putting a separate perimeter electric fence using five wires. Two ground and three hot. Do not like the idea of having to use barbed wire but would use it on the topmost wire if it is necessary. The other questions you raise are also interesting to me. My barrel latch is kind of tight and is not real easy for me to get open. You have experienced a coon openng that sort of lock. If so, I am now considering welding the entire thing shut and placing small mines around the perimeter. Also, the small space between the roofing and the upper wall is filled in with 2 x4's. The actual space may be an inch. What could possibly crawl up that wire fence and get through that space. I am new to all this and can not imagine something getting through that and causing harm. I guess a small snake that climbs could do it but not real sure about that. Give me your thoughts on both issues. Thanks

 

[Capvin]

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[Capvin]

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