Two black bears found the chicken coop

[llombardo]

How about petitioning your local officials to pick an appropriate spot and set up a feeding station for them? There's no question that they have to eat so it seems like ensuring that they eat something appropriate in an appropriate spot could prevent all manner of awful alternatives for the general human population.

Good idea. I was originally thinking to put something satisfying in those garbage cans far away. I know its a no no, but there are not many options here. Getting officials involved would make it right.

 

[IamRainey]

Getting officials involved would make it right.

And potentially set up the resolution that prevents or controls bear encounters for the whole area. I mean, if you're having this problem it's no doubt others are too.

I used to live in West Vancouer, BC. It was a blissful spot that was half affluent suburbs and half wildlife preserve. We all lived together with respect and appreciation. Raccoons and bears were regular visitors to our trashcans and thwarting them (we had an open carport rather than a garage) was a constant struggle and kept us on our toes. But, happily, there were no animals living outside to be concerned about. You are facing a much more challenging and critical problem!

I hope your local authorities will recognize their responsibility and this opportunity and rise to the occasion before someone gets hurt.

 

[New2Chicks97]

Can you run an extension cord to the coop from your nearest outlet? If so a cheap plug in electric fence would probably work well. We had a very determined coyote dig into our run.....moved the hardware cloth and multiple cinderblocks. We ran an electric fence around the outside of the run and so far have had no other issues. We had an extra solar electric fence charger on our back pasture that we weren’t using so we used that. You can get the solar chargers for under $200.

We have an electric plug in type of fence charger for our dog pen as we have diggers and it works well for our dogs. I think I spent around $30 on it from Amazon. It is rated for 5 miles worth of fence.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

The only thing we could do tonight was buy some ammonia and hang soaked washcloths on a line of paracord we stretched across the front of the coop, a few feet out from the door as a perimeter.

But we discovered the ammonia isn't strong at all. It was the only option. So I guess it comes in different strengths?

I've got two camera aimed at the coop to see what they end up doing tonight. We decided not to park the truck in front of the coop in case we need an escape vehicle, but it's aimed in that direction so we can press the keychain and flash the lights and sound the alarm.

Getting frustrated. Is there a good pellet type gun we should buy that won't injure the bears but will surely help scare them off?

 

[New2Chicks97]

The only thing we could do tonight was buy some ammonia and hang soaked washcloths on a line of paracord we stretched across the front of the coop, a few feet out from the door as a perimeter.

But we discovered the ammonia isn't strong at all. It was the only option. So I guess it comes in different strengths?

I've got two camera aimed at the coop to see what they end up doing tonight. We decided not to park the truck in front of the coop in case we need an escape vehicle, but it's aimed in that direction so we can press the keychain and flash the lights and sound the alarm.

Getting frustrated. Is there a good pellet type gun we should buy that won't injure the bears but will surely help scare them off?

Maybe a paint ball gun or one of those airsoft plastic pellet guns? Neither of those is liable to do more that leave a bruise. Though I am not sure of the range on either and I wouldn’t want to shoot something like a bear unless I could do so from a safe distance or place. I would maybe consider say.....my front porch or inside my car as I am not an Olympic sprinter!

How big is your coop & run area? We bought some of the step in plastic & fiberglass electric fence posts to run the wire for the electric fence around our coop and run. The coop and run are are 11’ x 35’. It took us 16 posts then some wire and of course a charger. The nice thing about the posts is that you can run a couple of strands of wire on them so that the bears couldn’t step over.

 

[EggWalrus]

Maybe a paint ball gun or one of those airsoft plastic pellet guns? Neither of those is liable to do more that leave a bruise. Though I am not sure of the range on either and I wouldn’t want to shoot something like a bear unless I could do so from a safe distance or place. I would maybe consider say.....my front porch or inside my car as I am not an Olympic sprinter!

How big is your coop & run area? We bought some of the step in plastic & fiberglass electric fence posts to run the wire for the electric fence around our coop and run. The coop and run are are 11’ x 35’. It took us 16 posts then some wire and of course a charger. The nice thing about the posts is that you can run a couple of strands of wire on them so that the bears couldn’t step over.

If you have a shotgun, use it! But get a box of cheap practice shells. Open up the plastic end that is folded and dump out the lead pellets. Put about a spoon full of course rock salt in place of pellets then re-close the shell. Short of shooting the bear in the skull point-blank, there is no chance you'd permanently hurt a bear. But he will get the message when he gets hit in the a$$ with some rock salt, he won't come back for some time.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Get a paintball gun and get yourself some pepper balls...... maybe after a shot of pepper they will know not to come back, it's pricey but might work. Or you can use less lethal paint balls which will sting the target if it makes contact, the stuff police use during riots.

 

[Howard E]

Forget all the other nonsense and focus your efforts 100% on setting up an electric fence perimeter. Electric fences have become the near universal solution to bear problems.

It need not be all that elaborate. Charger (AC or DC) connected to a ground rod. Charger should be at least 1 joule.....or rated for 10 miles or more of fence. That will give you a voltage in excess of 7,000 volts. Hot wire can be poly rope or poly tape (both highly visible to bears), and set on simple step in posts. Space 2 of them.....one about 12 to 15 inches off the ground, the second about the same distance above the first. These type of fences are simpler to use than the netting fences made for poultry or goats, and a fraction of the cost.

Bait your hot fence with bacon....just drape a piece over the fence and hold it in place with a clothes pin. Bears will lick that and then they will leave....and not likely to ever come back.

 

[EggWalrus]

Bait your hot fence with bacon.... Bears will lick that and then they will leave....and not likely to ever come back.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Forget all the other nonsense and focus your efforts 100% on setting up an electric fence perimeter. Electric fences have become the near universal solution to bear problems.

It need not be all that elaborate. Charger (AC or DC) connected to a ground rod. Charger should be at least 1 joule.....or rated for 10 miles or more of fence. That will give you a voltage in excess of 7,000 volts. Hot wire can be poly rope or poly tape (both highly visible to bears), and set on simple step in posts. Space 2 of them.....one about 12 to 15 inches off the ground, the second about the same distance above the first. These type of fences are simpler to use than the netting fences made for poultry or goats, and a fraction of the cost.

Bait your hot fence with bacon....just drape a piece over the fence and hold it in place with a clothes pin. Bears will lick that and then they will leave....and not likely to ever come back.

I'm going to follow your advice. The options on what to purchase and where is overwhelming me. It's hard knowing how to get started.

We don't have electricity at the coop. It would take two extension cords to reach it. Would that be okay with this setup?

Just secure the wire to T stakes? How far out from the coop? Some people put the hot wire directly on the coop itself, but I think fencing out the coop would be a better solution. Not sure, though.