California - Northern

[JerseyGiantfolk]

Quote: The bobcat here doesn't care about humans. I went outside and it was chasing my chooks up down their run. There are way more stories to it..

 

[chickee]

Years ago I watched a program about domestic cats that they won't go over a fence that has a top that is angled out towards them (like a prison yard.) I also had trouble with Bobcats going over my fence through hot wire, so I decided to give it a try since one of my chicken yards is too large to cover. It works! I haven't lost a chicken to a Bobcat since.

 

[capayvalleychick]

Hope that all of you have a Happy New Year!

Jason, a dog would definitely help deter some of those predators. Something that my DH does is to walk around and mark the property with his dog. Sounds ridiculous but this was mentioned on the oldtimers thread as one of the things to do to keep predators away.

I lost a rooster to a bobcat, about 10 years ago. My neighbor sees them around. I haven't had any more losses to them since I started locking the chickens up at night in secure coops.

 

[chickee]

The bobcat here doesn't care about humans. I went outside and it was chasing my chooks up down their run. There are way more stories to it..

Same here

They come all times of the day and will snatch a chicken just yards from where we are working. I love Bobcats (all cats really, I have two Bengals) so I do my best to keep my chickens safe and enjoy the Bobcats

 

[tls_ranch]

Years ago I watched a program about domestic cats that they won't go over a fence that has a top that is angled out towards them (like a prison yard.) I also had trouble with Bobcats going over my fence through hot wire, so I decided to give it a try since one of my chicken yards is too large to cover. It works! I haven't lost a chicken to a Bobcat since.

I've also heard an angled fence works well. A secure coop at night is the best defense for chickens overall. I have autodoors that close at night and don't open until after the sun has been up for a little while. Best thing we ever did. Now we can go out to dinner or go shopping and not worry about the chicken doors being open after dusk. I don't have covered runs either, but my main concern would be loose dogs wiping out my whole flock on the days I let them out free ranging. It only takes a dog a few minutes to cause so much damage...not sure my dogs would run every dog off they see. They are labs and are a bit more friendly to dogs than I would like them to be. Someday I would like a short coated shepherd or LGD dog.

Trisha

 

[juststruttin]

I don't see our bobcat much, the neighbors call to tell it out there but it tends to hang out on the other side of our lot.

The racoon I see as early as 4 pm. He eats the neighbors catfood they leave out 24/7.

I complain about the cost of the run roofs but I sleep nights knowing nothing is getting in the coops or runs. I really don't mind roofing once the shingles are on the roof. OH

Bummer.. I would not be a happy camper if the coons came out during the day. We have coons living under the deck in the same area the chickens free range and have never lost a chicken to one except the ones that decided to go brooder under the deck and did not coop up. I discovered their fateful mistake the next day.

 

[juststruttin]

The bobcat here doesn't care about humans. I went outside and it was chasing my chooks up down their run. There are way more stories to it..

Yep, they are bold. The first time I saw it I thought it was my aunt Australian Shepard it was so big. I think this thing was about 50#. The second time I saw it, it had a chicken in its mouth and hopped over the fence, stopped and looked back to mock me. It knew I could not get it.

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

I don't want to kill them, just exclude them. Let them know they actually need to work for food. A couple days ago I saw the bobcat run off with a something big and black.....

The worst case was when it crossed the road with a white cat in its mouth.... must have been deaf/blind.

Quote:

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

Quote:

They do mock.... flicking their little black tails...

 

[egg-lady]

The last 4 days i have been down with a bad cold. i went to tractor supply in auburn before i got sick and hubby put p. gravel in the owls and put them on the roof of our barn. and i ordered something else to keep the racoons away. a solar box with red light. see if it works. I havent been outside to see how they are doing, i hope the one sister is ok. and he is building me a huge chicken coop. this one has everything except the kitchen sink, LOL. have no ida where i am going to put it. he is having fun building them for me now. and for something strange, the day after christmas there were 16 goats in the empty field across the street from us. so i put it on my local FB page anyone missing goats, contract me, etc.. so evening time no one out looking or calling about missing goats. we were able to herd them in our pasture so they do not become food that night. as of today they are still in our pasture i am buying food for them. our goats are tame and go to the neighbors to and dont get out. these are wild and cant let them go next door. 16 new goats in my pasture and i have no idea where they came from. they are adjusting just fine to their tempt home.