Scared Girls

[First-timer]

We live on 2 acres of land and had 6 girls that are 2 years old and some new girls that are 5 months old. We have them sepereted until the new girls start laying. During the course of last 6 months we have lost 2 of our older girls and last Sunday we saw a bobcat next to their run. We thought we had lost them due to a fox or owl so we put fishing line all across the top to keep them out. The problem is, the last one that we lost, the bobcat must have gotten inside their coop during the day and now the girls will not go back into their coop. We have to heard them in like cattle or pick them up and put them in. I installed a light thinking they would go in if they could see that nothing was in there, but we still have to force them to go to bed at night. Does any body have any idea's on what else could do? They are not laying, they are not eating their laying feed like they use to either. Thanks, First Timer.

 

[sourland]

Hopefully you are closing up the coop at night. If the bobcat is still in the area it will take them a relatively long time to overcome their fear of being trapped in the coop. One solution might be to remove the bobcat.

 

[First-timer]

Yes we are closing them up at night. The bobcat was at their run at 8:30 in the morning on Sunday. Having to work during the week it is very difficult to keep an eye on them during the day. Do you think it might be best to keep them locked up in their small coop run while we are not there?

We are in the process of looking into that. It's a very expensive proposition...so far we have been quoted 800-1200 dollars to come a hopefully capture the bobcat.

 

[sourland]

Wow, they are asking way too much to remove that bobcat. A far cheaper and more permanent solution might be to install electric fencing around the coop and run. I definitely would not allow your hens to free range unattended. Even if you are there watching them, the bobcat may be bold enough to attack.

For $l,200 they would have to guarantee capture of the cat plus making a shawl for the Princess out of it's pelt.

 

[First-timer]

You got that right! Thanks for the help.

 

[thomasboyle]

I was having bobcat problems, so I purchased 4' high electric net fence from Premier 1 and fenced in the chicken coop and their yard. I contacted the CT Dept of Environmental Protection, and while bobcats are protected, and there is no hunting season for bobcats in CT, it is legal to eliminate any animal that is killing or endangering livestock or family. You also have to make sure it is legal to shoot a gun on your property. In CT you have to have more than 10 acres.

I still have a pair of bobcats around, but the electric fence keeps them at bay. I choose not to shoot them as long as they are not harming the chickens. Here is a picture taken a few weeks ago. The camera is mounted 6 inches outside the electric fence surrounding the chicken yard.

 

[tex1313]

Not sure about the laws in CT, but a inexpensive way to catch/kill bobcats is to get a very large treble hook attached to some heavy duty fishing leader wire, embed it in a piece of meat (or a red bird really works the best but I don't like that option), hang it about 4' off the ground and the bobcat will jump up to get the meat and get snared by the treble hook in its mouth and die. Not very humane, but it works and is relatively inexpensive. I have a lot of bobcats at my place and know that they are going to be an issue when I get the girls outside. Electric fence is also a great option. Good luck!

 

[First-timer]

We are actually in Tennessee......Not sure what the laws are around here either, will need to look into that. Thanks for the info, I think we are going to go with the electric fence outside of their large yard run that we have set up for them already. Hopefully it will work. Thanks again to everyone for their input..appreciate it very much.