Should I even bother?

[grnmntnchick]

Not sure if this is the place to post this but here goes... I really want to get chickens but with all the predators I already have I'm wondering if it would pointless. The chickens would be housed in a coop and covered run that I would make as strong as humanly possible. They'd be kept in the coop at night and I'd install an electric fence. The problem is I already have raccoons, possums, foxes, skunks, mink, weasel, hawks, owls and bears. These are just the ones I've seen, there may be others. The one I'm most concerned about is the bear... I have nothing outside for him but he still passes through the yard on a regular basis, just yesterday he left a calling card on my front lawn

! So, I guess my question is would a 2 joule, 3 strand electric fence be enough to keep him at bay?

 

[sourland]

Bears can be a tough call - hopefully someone with 'bear experience' will chime in. A bear 'remodeled' my SIL/daughter's garage door attempting to get at garbage inside the garage. Some have posted that putting bacon strips on the hot wire works as a deterrent. In order to be effective it seems that the bear's muzzle/mouth must contact the wire as their fur serves as an insulator.

 

[thomasboyle]

I would not let the list of predators stop you. I have coyotes, bobcat, bears, raccoons, possums, hawks, and I definitely recommend electric net fencing. I have 48" high fence set up around the chicken yard, and I have not had a single loss since the fence went up. My fence checks out at 8000 volts (0.5 joule model) and animals don't mess with it.

If you have a run, secure it very well. I have a dual layer fence on my run. The outer layer is 2"x4" field fencing and the inner layer is 1/2" hardware wire. This, combined with the electric fence all around keep predators at bay. In fact, three weeks ago I had a bear pass by the chicken coop and start scratching on the house! I think he figured the coop was too well protected, but the house not as much!

Good luck and post pictures!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I would not let the list of predators stop you. I have coyotes, bobcat, bears, raccoons, possums, hawks, and I definitely recommend electric net fencing. I have 48" high fence set up around the chicken yard, and I have not had a single loss since the fence went up. My fence checks out at 8000 volts (0.5 joule model) and animals don't mess with it.

If you have a run, secure it very well. I have a dual layer fence on my run. The outer layer is 2"x4" field fencing and the inner layer is 1/2" hardware wire. This, combined with the electric fence all around keep predators at bay. In fact, three weeks ago I had a bear pass by the chicken coop and start scratching on the house! I think he figured the coop was too well protects, but the house not as much!

Good luck and post pictures!

X 2

 

[roosterhavoc]

If you have actually seen a weasel and know for sure it was a weasel trap them. All you need is a wooden box and a rat trap. You can do a quick google search and find out how to make them. All the other predators shouldn't be too hard to keep away. Use hardware cloth on the coop with zero gaps to keep out weasels.

 

[RonP]

I would not let the list of predators stop you. I have coyotes, bobcat, bears, raccoons, possums, hawks, and I definitely recommend electric net fencing. I have 48" high fence set up around the chicken yard, and I have not had a single loss since the fence went up. My fence checks out at 8000 volts (0.5 joule model) and animals don't mess with it.

If you have a run, secure it very well. I have a dual layer fence on my run. The outer layer is 2"x4" field fencing and the inner layer is 1/2" hardware wire. This, combined with the electric fence all around keep predators at bay. In fact, three weeks ago I had a bear pass by the chicken coop and start scratching on the house! I think he figured the coop was too well protects, but the house not as much!

Good luck and post pictures!

Beautiful setup!

 

[grnmntnchick]

Well that does it no chickens for me! The bear was on my front porch. He smashed open a jar of slug pellets of all things. I am completely freaked out and have no desire whatsoever to add something to my yard that will bring this guy back again and again and then frustrate him because he can't get them. I plan on contacting fish and game but it's a holiday weekend soooooo.... I know people on here will tell me to shot it. I don't own a gun and while I have no issue with it's death I don't have the intestinal fortitude to bring it about myself. It's gone for now and all I want to do is sit here and cry for a bit.

I'm that freaked about it trying to get in the house.

 

[KendyF]

Well that does it no chickens for me! The bear was on my front porch. He smashed open a jar of slug pellets of all things. I am completely freaked out and have no desire whatsoever to add something to my yard that will bring this guy back again and again and then frustrate him because he can't get them. I plan on contacting fish and game but it's a holiday weekend soooooo.... I know people on here will tell me to shot it. I don't own a gun and while I have no issue with it's death I don't have the intestinal fortitude to bring it about myself. It's gone for now and all I want to do is sit here and cry for a bit.

I'm that freaked about it trying to get in the house.

I am not saying bears can't be dangerous, but I grew up in Douglas, AK, we had tons of bears, and sometimes chased them off of the porch with a broom. I don't know what kind of bear you have, and I am not trying to be insensitive, I am just saying, highly unlikely the bear will attempt to get into your house, and unless it is wounded or has young cubs they don't usually actively attack humans. The intent of my post is to attempt you help you feel less frightened.

 

[grnmntnchick]

Thanks that does make me feel a bit better. It's a black bear... This is from when he walked through the yard one afternoon. I banged on the door, which was not 2 feet from him tonight and he completely ignored me. I live alone and well, he's just about bigger than me! I often describe myself as a pessimist with an overactive imagination so I'm really good at imagining the worst! And who would have thought he'd get into slug pellets!!!

 

[KendyF]

Thanks that does make me feel a bit better. It's a black bear... This is from when he walked through the yard one afternoon. I banged on the door, which was not 2 feet from him tonight and he completely ignored me. I live alone and well, he's just about bigger than me! I often describe myself as a pessimist with an overactive imagination so I'm really good at imagining the worst! And who would have thought he'd get into slug pellets!!!

I have memories of hitting bears with brooms on the porch of our house and yelling at them to get out of the garbage. I understand feeling concerned and calling the fish and game is a good idea! I will nearly promise you he won't try to get into your house though.