Bobcat got 2 of our chickens despite electric fence!

[Jblanch1983]

Hi all, I am pretty sure a bobcat got two of our 16 chickens! We saw feathers but not actually the cat this time. She was in the run about two weeks ago and we chased her off. We have a 48” tall electric fence (premier 1 supplies brand). I guess it just leaped over without getting shocked? Other than baiting the fence is there anything else we can do? Thinking of building a chicken tractor inside the run but the girls would be so sad with so little room to roam. My husband suggested making the fence taller with some other material (deer fence or hard ware cloth but pretty spendy considering the size of the run)

any advice would be so appreciated!!!

thanks all, this was our first chicken loss, so sad

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Sorry for your loss. I wondered if a predator could leap over and clear this type of fence. But, in your situation it sounds like it cleared it again to get out with prey in its mouth? Yikes.

 

[Jblanch1983]

Sorry for your loss. I wondered if a predator could leap over and clear this type of fence. But, in your situation it sounds like it cleared it again to get out with prey in its mouth? Yikes.

Yeah I mean I didn’t see it happen but since it was in the run 2 weeks ago I assume it was. Neighbors have been seeing bobcats too. We do have bears, cougars and hawks too in this area but the sightings and attacks all happened in broad daylight too( between 10am and 6pm) which is not usual for a bobcat... only evidence where some feathers in the run...

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Yeah I mean I didn’t see it happen but since it was in the run 2 weeks ago I assume it was. Neighbors have been seeing bobcats too. We do have bears, cougars and hawks too in this area but the sightings and attacks all happened in broad daylight too( between 10am and 6pm) which is not usual for a bobcat... only evidence where some feathers in the run...

Ugh. I had a fox take off with my favorite duck at 10 am while I was about 200 ft away on the other side of the house.

 

[McChooky]

Hi all, I am pretty sure a bobcat got two of our 16 chickens! We saw feathers but not actually the cat this time. She was in the run about two weeks ago and we chased her off. We have a 48” tall electric fence (premier 1 supplies brand). I guess it just leaped over without getting shocked? Other than baiting the fence is there anything else we can do? Thinking of building a chicken tractor inside the run but the girls would be so sad with so little room to roam. My husband suggested making the fence taller with some other material (deer fence or hard ware cloth but pretty spendy considering the size of the run)

any advice would be so appreciated!!!

thanks all, this was our first chicken loss, so sad

Plastic Poultry fences don't offer much protection because coyotes and other predators can jump 5-6 ft fences. Climbing predators and birds or prey can get in the top.

 

[mowin]

Bobcat will easily jump a 5' fence. Watched one a few yrs back jump a 6’ fence to get at some newly birthed lambs. He did need to use the top of the post to get over. How do I know it was a "he"? I was woodchuck hunting that farm and witnessed the jump. He didn't make it much past the landing.

 

[Jblanch1983]

Plastic Poultry fences don't offer much protection because coyotes and other predators can jump 5-6 ft fences. Climbing predators and birds or prey can get in the top.

Thanks for your reply! So what do you think about a 4ft electric fence on the bottom and a 4ft deer fence on the top to prevent jumping predators? Haven’t had issues with birds so far!

 

[cmom]

Several years ago I lost 14 birds to a bobcat. It made the mistake of coming back. I have been seeing one lately but it hasn't tried to get to the birds. I do have my fence grounded and electric wires around my coops and pens about a foot away from the fence. I also have some good heavy duty netting covering my pens and concrete under the gates. My voltage runs 10,000+ volts. Anything that touches the wires will know it.
My fence charger.
My wires. They may not be too pretty but they work. Nothing has gotten past the hot wires yet. I have heard some attempts, but it only takes once. These wires will hurt but that is the idea, I want them to hurt so they will figure out whatever is on the other side isn't worth getting zapped for.

Outside my chick grow-out coop. There are electric wires around it too.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Several years ago I lost 14 birds to a bobcat. It made the mistake of coming back. I have been seeing one lately but it hasn't tried to get to the birds. I do have my fence grounded and electric wires around my coops and pens about a foot away from the fence. I also have some good heavy duty netting covering my pens and concrete under the gates. My voltage runs 10,000+ volts. Anything that touches the wires will know it.
My fence charger.View attachment 2830268
My wires. They may not be too pretty but they work. Nothing has gotten past the hot wires yet. I have heard some attempts, but it only takes once. These wires will hurt but that is the idea, I want them to hurt so they will figure out whatever is on the other side isn't worth getting zapped for.View attachment 2830269
Outside my chick grow-out coop. There are electric wires around it too.
View attachment 2830272
View attachment 2830273View attachment 2830274

You should make this info into an article.

 

[Kaesi2020]

So sorry for your loss! We had a bobcat attack recently too. They do seem to keep coming back looking for opportunities. Can you put a roof over the enclosure? Metal or hardware cloth? Also try getting a game camera as well. Perhaps also placing another row or two of the electric fencing? Good luck