Do bear bother chickens?

[chicken911]

I'm new to this chicken farming thing and live in an area frequented by bear in the fall. They usually come in for the apples on the trees of to clean the seed from bird feeder, but now we have these chickens. Has anyone ever heard of a bear bothering their chickens or raiding the coop for chicken feed? Not that I can make a bear proof coop.

Jason

 

[rufus]

Electric fence is the only answer.

Rufus

 

[Peep_Show]

Do bear bother chickens?

Yep! Tastes like chicken!

Bear raiding is the reason there's no real pig farmers in Alaska.... Polar bear love ribs!

Electric fence is about your best defense at deterring them.

 

[mistyfeather]

ya electric fence is your ONLY option, my perents have terrible bear problems in the summer, its the only thing that will keep them out.

 

[Imp]

There have been some horrifying posts in the past from members waking up in the night to a bear ripping apart the coop and eating the chickens. Nothing they could do.

Imp

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

IMO, bear tastes better than chicken. And one bear equals a lot of chickens, meat wise! So yes, there is a very powerful deterrent you can use... it is legal in most states to shoot raiders to prevent livestock depredation.

 

[panner123]

As others have stated, an electric fence will slow them down, but if they are hungry and want in they will get in. Once in it is up to you to call on 2 good friends to stop them, they are Mr. Smith & Mr. Wesson of the larger caliber. But given the choice between chickens and chicken feed, most of the time they will take the feed.

 

[momof3babygirls]

I must be one of the lucking ones on here. We have had a mama bear around here for about 8 yrs now. She never messed with my horses or my chickens. This year she even had 2 baby cubs. Now I do keep 3 strands of electric fence around it. When I tested it (not on purpose, I accidently grabbed it) it put me to my knees. I don't know if it would deter a bear, but the cyotes do and have had second thoughts about eating my chickens.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

If I lived where there were bears, I would just go ahead and fence with the electric wire.

 

[rufus]

Shooting bears is sort of subject to local interpretation. In some states it is alright to kill a raiding bear. In others, it will get you into deep trouble. Check out your legal options before you kill the critter.

Rufus