How to Stop a Bobcat

[FlockHappy]

Every night something eats one of my chickens. I'm thinking its a bobcat because my husband seen one in our yard a couple of times. My chickens are in a pen with a six foot high fence that's connected to a barn. I don't know how to stop whatever is eating them. Any ideas?

 

[Alaskan]

It is horrid, (money and time wise) but you just might have to make their set-up completely predator proof.

Scrounging for free stuff can sometimes be very profitable.

I finally gave up on the idea of a large run. My chickens are now pretty well protected. I put concrete reenforcing wire as the roof of the run. I don't think a bobcat could squeeze through that. But you could always top the concrete wire with a layer of chicken wire.

Your only other choice is to kill the bobcat, and I don't know if that is legal where you are at.

 

[jenniemig]

I believe that bobcats are trapped often for their pelts. In Florida you are permitted to kill any animal (endangered or not) on your property if it is threatening you or your animals. If this is the route that you take maybe you can find a trapper that will come and get him without you having to kill it yourself. My dad had a huge raccoon that would kill his chickens, every night he would find a way to take one. The trapper said that once the animal finds a way to get an easy meal it will come back.

 

[Trefoil]

Trying to kill off predators is a losing battle. In the long run, the only way to keep your chickens safe is to predator proof their pen. In my area (MI) that means a maximum of 1/2" x 1/2" because we have weasels. When I bury wire I use something that hopefully lasts longer than poultry wire. It costs more to start with but its worth it not to have to redo it so often.

 

[cstronks]

I agree. Predator proof your coop to protect your birds. Trapping won't solve your problem, and I believe that you would need a permit or license to trap a bobcat. If you do it illegally and are caught, you could be talking a hefty fine that will more than likely dwarf what any upgrade would have cost.

 

[FlockHappy]

Thanks. Sounds pretty wild.

 

[Klutch]

They have large Havahart live traps

 

[REDNECK TRAPPER]

Trap it with a foot hold trap. Get some feathers and tie them on a string attached to a stick then put the stick in the ground that way you have a visual trap and dig a hole under your feathers and put some raw chicken in the hole. Then put 3-4 foot traps around the bait. If you use a live trap do not release because it will become another persons problem. Kill it.