Risk Tolerance (Predators)

[pamelajean]

I am having an internal dilemma. Since losing one of my ducks to a bobcat a month ago, I have been keeping them in their 10 x 12 enclosed, covered pen while I am at work, which is most daylight hours right now) instead of their 600 ft2 electrified net fenced area. They are not happy about this - it seems obvious to me. Unless I am anothromorphising, I don't know... The reason I wanted to get ducks or chickens was so I could have eggs from a happy source. (And it just feels good to provide for oneself). So the question is - happy duck with risk of a dead duck, or cranky duck with much less risk.

 

[getaclue]

Are you saying the electric fence didn't keep the bobcat out?

 

[SueT]

I let my older hens free range as they are wiser, but also more expendable. That way we get some eggs with the bright orange yolks and at the same time keep tabs on predator activity. The younger girls, who have never experienced ranging, stay confined.
When you first lock up poultry that was used to free ranging, they will be unhappy, but in my experience with chickens, they get used to it after a month or so.

 

[Trish1974]

Better safe than sorry. I wouldn't risk it.

 

[sourland]

Unless the bobcat has been removed or the security breach corrected, it will eventually return to a known food source.

 

[SueT]

Yes I have to agree with the above replies. This predator will return. My girls that get to free range (part time) had been locked up for many months after the last predator sighting. They don't get to go out every single day either. They seem to just accept it if I don't let them out.

 

[pamelajean]

Are you saying the electric fence didn't keep the bobcat out?

Correct, it jumped right over it. Its only 4 feet... I think it got buzzed though - half the uneaten duck was stuck in the fence. Hopefully it learned its lesson and won't be back! (Every other animal that I've seen get tagged is very wary afterwards).

 

[getaclue]

The sad truth is, when you free range, you are going to lose one or more occasionally. Maybe you could attach a large run for them.

 

[lazy gardener]

That's tough, and bobcat will take birds in the middle of the day. A recent poster reported a bobcat that would sit outside her run in broad day light and leer at her birds. Are you in a no shoot zone? I guess, if I were in your situation, I'd keep my birds in a predator proof enclosure until the bobcat has been dispatched.

In the mean time, do you have your electronet still hooked up? If so, perhaps you could bait it with some chicken, tuna, or other tasty morsel that would be irresistible to a very large kitty. Place it in such a way that he can't get to it without touching the fence.

 

[pamelajean]

That's tough, and bobcat will take birds in the middle of the day. A recent poster reported a bobcat that would sit outside her run in broad day light and leer at her birds. Are you in a no shoot zone? I guess, if I were in your situation, I'd keep my birds in a predator proof enclosure until the bobcat has been dispatched.

In the mean time, do you have your electronet still hooked up? If so, perhaps you could bait it with some chicken, tuna, or other tasty morsel that would be irresistible to a very large kitty. Place it in such a way that he can't get to it without touching the fence.

Baiting it to make sure it got zapped is an interesting idea. I'm pretty sure the little bugger struck in the middle of the day also since it was while I was at work. I think I am allowed to shoot if it is attacking my animals and then I would just have to report it - but that is really not an option since the only gun in our house is a pellet gun... (Plus I don't really think I have it in me to shoot it.)

As bad as I feel for them, for now I am keeping them in their run while I am at work. I wish there was a better way! I only have 2 ducks left so don't have the numbers to lose another one! Plus .