California - Northern

[Hangtown Farms]

it IS sad, she was a sweet one -- and frustrating, that after over a year with no losses to predators, i have two in a week. both early-ish morning but the sun was up. i'm not quite sure what to do at this point -- i know SOME predator loss in such an edge-of-the-wild place must be expected (as there are hawks, eagles, bobcats, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, and skunks around), but unsure how to balance the pros of free-ranging with the cons of possible losses...

oh no -- mystery solved, it is the bobcat -- he just got Daisy, my beautiful black australorp and best layer. i'm just heartbroken.

true -- but the presence of human families doesn't necessarily mean the absence of predator families. the reality is that all of california is habitat for creatures like bobcats -- my own approach is, I'm supposedly a smart person, i'd better figure out a way to live within that reality, rather than trying to make the wildlife behave the way i want them to -- because that's not a fight i'm going to win.

plus, predators play an incredibly vital role in any ecosystem, and too many ecosystems are hopelessly screwed up due to a shortage or lack of predators -- that's why we have ridiculous numbers of deer and (non-native) wild turkeys, to the point where they become pests -- and why gophers plague so many fields in astronomical numbers. the last thing our local ecosystem needs is even fewer predators.

but each to their own. my chickens can live with free-ranging less often.

if you can. You can use lodge poles spaced 8 ft apart use no climb fencing with big tent stakes 2 per section. Do as big a area as you want or can cover and buy heavy duty poultry netting. To cover it. Bobcats can climb the no climb though most others can not , however they will not try to go in a covered run with netting. This will also keep hawks and owls out.
Eventually it will look elsewhere though most ranchers around there wont think twice so hopefully it gets back to hunting other birds and jack rabbits and young deer


This may help you let your chickens have some freedom though its pricy. No climb ( horse fence) is what you need though.
We do live in wild country however with the hi food resources available at this point ( I have never sen so many deer as I have in the last few years) there are numerous predators. Populations gaining with the food availability so there will probably be even more . Unlike some animals our Big Kitties , ( bobcats , mountain lions ) plus coyotes adapt pretty good so even with increased human populations. With more people they are seen more for sure.

Bobcats arent bad as they also eat foxes and skunks

 

[8machines]

I am very sorry for your losses. After we lost our sweet Brahma, the bobcat was still hiding because my husband found her body, he scared him away with a few shots of a pellet gun as the bobcat came out to get the rest of her. We buried her. So if you see the animal have something ready.

 

[lualshannon]

true -- but the presence of human families doesn't necessarily mean the absence of predator families. the reality is that all of california is habitat for creatures like bobcats -- my own approach is, I'm supposedly a smart person, i'd better figure out a way to live within that reality, rather than trying to make the wildlife behave the way i want them to -- because that's not a fight i'm going to win.

plus, predators play an incredibly vital role in any ecosystem, and too many ecosystems are hopelessly screwed up due to a shortage or lack of predators -- that's why we have ridiculous numbers of deer and (non-native) wild turkeys, to the point where they become pests -- and why gophers plague so many fields in astronomical numbers. the last thing our local ecosystem needs is even fewer predators.

but each to their own. my chickens can live with free-ranging less often.

Earlier today, I expressed my sympathies about your pullet who lost her life to a bobcat.
I regret posting it! I still feel bad about the poor little bird because it is a horrific way to die.
I rarely post on this thread, and it is not a nice feeling to be jumped on when I just wanted to relate my kind thoughts about a life lost!

I did not have intentions of getting into a debate about the realities of country living in Sonoma County which is filled with cattle, sheep, and different livestock farms and ranches.

Yes! each to their own.. or at least should be each to their own!

 

[Nikon]

I'm so sorry. Bobcats are very sneaky and can climb too.

Looks like a pullet.
Maybe Nikon could pick up your CCL's and meet you half way for the Brahmas. That way you both would only be driving 1 1/2 hours.

That's a good idea.... but I'd have to build another coop too.

We do love the one Brahma we have!

 

[debs_flock]

Quote:
Maybe Nikon could pick up your CCL's and meet you half way for the Brahmas. That way you both would only be driving 1 1/2 hours.

Clever girl Kelly................good thinking outside the box!

 

[lawatt]

Earlier today, I expressed my sympathies about your pullet who lost her life to a bobcat.
I regret posting it! I still feel bad about the poor little bird because it is a horrific way to die.
I rarely post on this thread, and it is not a nice feeling to be jumped on when I just wanted to relate my kind thoughts about a life lost!

I did not have intentions of getting into a debate about the realities of country living in Sonoma County which is filled with cattle, sheep, and different livestock farms and ranches.

Yes! each to their own.. or at least should be each to their own!

please don't misunderstand me, i in no way intended to jump on you -- as i wrote earlier, i appreciate the sympathies, and was simply explaining why i am not planning on trying to kill or relocate the bobcat in question. my post said nothing about you at all -- and i thought i clarified that by saying, "to each their own." this is MY approach, i did not say it has to be anyone else's.

 

[ronott1]

Originally Posted by Happy Chooks
Quote:
Maybe Nikon could pick up your CCL's and meet you half way for the Brahmas. That way you both would only be driving 1 1/2 hours.

Clever girl Kelly................good thinking outside the box!
I meet people from Redding in Willows at Walmart. Willows is about half way from Redding to Woodland.

 

[lawatt]

if you can. You can use lodge poles spaced 8 ft apart use no climb fencing with big tent stakes 2 per section. Do as big a area as you want or can cover and buy heavy duty poultry netting. To cover it. Bobcats can climb the no climb though most others can not , however they will not try to go in a covered run with netting. This will also keep hawks and owls out.
Eventually it will look elsewhere though most ranchers around there wont think twice so hopefully it gets back to hunting other birds and jack rabbits and young deer


This may help you let your chickens have some freedom though its pricy. No climb ( horse fence) is what you need though.
We do live in wild country however with the hi food resources available at this point ( I have never sen so many deer as I have in the last few years) there are numerous predators. Populations gaining with the food availability so there will probably be even more . Unlike some animals our Big Kitties , ( bobcats , mountain lions ) plus coyotes adapt pretty good so even with increased human populations. With more people they are seen more for sure.

Bobcats arent bad as they also eat foxes and skunks

thanks for the advice -- I cannot afford lots of fencing at this point, and don't want to go that direction -- I really just prefer to let the chickens out to free-range (they otherwise are in predator-safe coops+runs, and so are still outdoors during the day, just not outside of their run) less extensively. i'll be on campus far more after next week again anyway, so letting them out when i get home in the later afternoon will work just fine.

after all, the chickens have been here for over a year, with that sort of free-ranging pattern, and this week is the first trouble with predators i've had. I don't think i need to overreact, even though i'm very sad about the girls that are gone.

but definitely appreciate the thoughts, from all!

 

[Grandmas Basket]

true -- but the presence of human families doesn't necessarily mean the absence of predator families. the reality is that all of california is habitat for creatures like bobcats -- my own approach is, I'm supposedly a smart person, i'd better figure out a way to live within that reality, rather than trying to make the wildlife behave the way i want them to -- because that's not a fight i'm going to win.

plus, predators play an incredibly vital role in any ecosystem, and too many ecosystems are hopelessly screwed up due to a shortage or lack of predators -- that's why we have ridiculous numbers of deer and (non-native) wild turkeys, to the point where they become pests -- and why gophers plague so many fields in astronomical numbers. the last thing our local ecosystem needs is even fewer predators.

but each to their own. my chickens can live with free-ranging less often.

I applaud your perspective. I'm right in the City of Sacramento and close to the American River. We have an abundance of wildlife and I am amazed at the adaptability of predators and prey to thrive along with us bipeds. I lost my outdoor goldfish one at a time to raccoons over the years, but last Christmas got wiped out save one, a fish born in the pond and the smallest of them all. I decided then to spend a ridiculous amount to set up an indoor aquarium to keep Felix from being eaten. Got him/her a splashy red friend, Lucy. Have to say watching them inside up close is fun. I kept one small pond for water plants and stocked it with mosquito fish (generic and no chance I'll bond with them should the racoons find them tasty). This drama did give me the mindset that I needed to predator proof the entire chicken coop/run right up front. I don't begrudge the racoons and realize I'll never be able to keep them away. I hope my 3 pullets remain intact. The advantage of having only 3 is that we've really bonded. And at 18 weeks, I'm looking forward to seeing our first eggs, soon. Good luck to you and your flock. Hope your school year is a rewarding one!

 

[chiqita]

Wow bobcats everywhere!

We did look into what can be done about bobcats here because we are frigging 4 blocks from the San Jose limits and it seemed a bad place for bobcats.

Apparently they are massively protected and you have to get a permit to even try and trap them. And you have to have a very solid reason to get a permit. Shooting one can actually get you jail time. So be aware everyone.

I say this as if I can even hold a gun Lol . we did not look at shooting it ( it was here before we were after all) but the vehemence of the law made me look into it all more then I might otherwise. What you can and can't legally do about predictors is quite interesting IMO.