best defense against bobcats?

[rod5591]

This evening after dark I went into the chicken pen with a headlamp on, and was I surprised when I heard something growling at me, it sounded like a big cat, a moment later when I was cautiously advancing, the same animal hiss and snarled, it sounded about 15 feet away, on the other side of my chain link fence. I retreated into the house and got my 12 gauge shotgun, loaded with police buckshot (all I could find at a moments notice), I went back making a lot of noise, but heard no more growling or snarling.

I figured I had a bobcat after my hens, anyone have this experience before? How did you handle it?

My hens are behind 3 layers of fencing--the inner peremeter is 6 foot welded wire field fence, then a 6 foot chain link fence, and then my neighbors 4 strand barb wire fence. But I figure it wont stop a bobcat. I have a Arlo security camera pointed at the henhouses but it points into a neighbors light and I dont have confidence it will alert to me to a bobcat, although it might.

How I wish I still had my 4 year old GSD, she was the best at alerting me to and preventing predation, but she came down with bloat and gastric torsion and I had to have her put to sleep 5 months ago! That really tore me up. :-(

I have a 5 month old GSD pup but she is not ready to face a bobcat I do not think--I let her out tonight in the yard next to the chickens when I was looking for the bobcat, and she was afraid, peering at me from around the corner of the house...

I will count the birds in the morning, I think the bobcat will pick the birds off one at a time and carry them out of the yard before eating them, so I might not find any feathers.

Any advice or thoughts?

 

[perchie.girl]

Only thing you can do is make sure that outer layer of wire is closed tight top and bottom and no holes....

I lost a free range flock to bobcat.... They will go straight up a tree for take out...

Good luck.

deb

 

[Folly's place]

Electric fencing! And a very secure coop and run, and keep them inside it until you set up that electric. A good adult dog or two will help if they are out there 24/7. You can maybe get this cat, but more will come...
Mary

 

[OhZark Biddies]

This evening after dark I went into the chicken pen with a headlamp on, and was I surprised when I heard something growling at me, it sounded like a big cat, a moment later when I was cautiously advancing, the same animal hiss and snarled, it sounded about 15 feet away, on the other side of my chain link fence. I retreated into the house and got my 12 gauge shotgun, loaded with police buckshot (all I could find at a moments notice), I went back making a lot of noise, but heard no more growling or snarling.

I figured I had a bobcat after my hens, anyone have this experience before? How did you handle it?

My hens are behind 3 layers of fencing--the inner peremeter is 6 foot welded wire field fence, then a 6 foot chain link fence, and then my neighbors 4 strand barb wire fence. But I figure it wont stop a bobcat. I have a Arlo security camera pointed at the henhouses but it points into a neighbors light and I dont have confidence it will alert to me to a bobcat, although it might.

How I wish I still had my 4 year old GSD, she was the best at alerting me to and preventing predation, but she came down with bloat and gastric torsion and I had to have her put to sleep 5 months ago! That really tore me up. :-(

I have a 5 month old GSD pup but she is not ready to face a bobcat I do not think--I let her out tonight in the yard next to the chickens when I was looking for the bobcat, and she was afraid, peering at me from around the corner of the house...

I will count the birds in the morning, I think the bobcat will pick the birds off one at a time and carry them out of the yard before eating them, so I might not find any feathers.

Any advice or thoughts?

Bobcats can be almost ridiculously easy to catch by the foot if you make a proper trap set targeting them specifically. .. if you’re inclined to take that approach...

 

[cmom]

I would put up a game camera. I have had bobcats around here but never confronted by one. We had one that killed 14 birds one night. It didn't come back the next night but did the following night, a big mistake.

 

[cmom]

Electric fencing! And a very secure coop and run, and keep them inside it until you set up that electric. A good adult dog or two will help if they are out there 24/7. You can maybe get this cat, but more will come...
Mary

I agree with Mary. The bobcat kill was my inspiration to put up the electric wire around all of my coops and pens. Once the predators come in contact with it they don't test it again. A coyote behind some of the coops.

 

[perchie.girl]

I prefer the electric fence....

 

[Folly's place]

And, electric fencing is the least expensive option. Way cheaper than guard dogs!
Premier1supplies.com, and Howard E, for help.
Mary

 

[rod5591]

Bobcats can be almost ridiculously easy to catch by the foot if you make a proper trap set targeting them specifically. .. if you’re inclined to take that approach...

Any suggestions on how to make a proper foot trap? I've been trying a live catch trap, without success. In fact I have not seen any sign of the cat since that first encounter.

 

[rod5591]

I prefer the electric fence....

What brand of controller is best? Does it stay electrified during drought?