Should I try and kill this bobcat?

[Red Mangrove]

Forget the idealism, and protect your hens and let the Bobcat live as it is supposed to. Simply put, quit baiting it with live unprotected food source. It is totally possible to construct a large run with heavy mesh and make predator and dig proof. Also make a hen house with a roost that can be tightly locked up every night so small predators cannot get at them while sleeping.

Locking chickens up at night is how people get all of their chickens killed. It's completely unnatural to keep birds in a box, and the second a predator gets in they're all dead

My 60 free-range chickens sleep in trees and when a predator attacks them in the night they simply fly to another tree

 

[Klutch]

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned but Wolf Urine should do the trick.

 

[Klutch]

You should get sentry animal, like some guineas and or some African Geese.

 

[McChooky]

Locking chickens up at night is how people get all of their chickens killed. It's completely unnatural to keep birds in a box, and the second a predator gets in they're all dead

My 60 free-range chickens sleep in trees and when a predator attacks them in the night they simply fly to another tree

Using predator proof coops and runs prevents losses from predators . Sorry but free ranging chickens that roost in trees have no protection whatsoever.

 

[Red Mangrove]

Using predator proof coops and runs prevents losses from predators . Sorry but free ranging chickens that roost in trees have no protection whatsoever.

My 60 chickens outside prove otherwise. Chickens are easily capable of predator evasion on their own, as long as one has healthy chickens

 

[McChooky]

My 60 chickens outside prove otherwise. Chickens are easily capable of predator evasion on their own, as long as one has healthy chickens

Everyone in my community thats let their chickens roost in trees has lost them. Maybe you can share some tips with those of us who have coyotes, bob cats and bears?

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Locking chickens up at night is how people get all of their chickens killed.

You do you. I will continue to lock them in at night.

 

[Captain13]

I may be wrong here but I’m pretty sure chickens can’t see in the dark. Not arguing with what chickens might do, I’m surprised they will fly from one tree to another in complete darkness. Mine don’t even get off the roost bars in the dark.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I may be wrong here but I’m pretty sure chickens can’t see in the dark. Not arguing with what chickens might do, I’m surprised they will fly from one tree to another in complete darkness. Mine don’t even get off the roost bars in the dark.

They can see, they just can't see very well. But if it's in an area that they know well, or that it's 'either move to be taken down by a predator', then they can usually do it well enough

 

[Mr Spot]

I wouldn't even think about it, Mr. bobcat would be history !