Layer flock has been shrinking...again...
Need to reset the date/time on the game camera to see if I can determine it's schedule. Looks anemic to me, I'm wanna be a Good Guy and give it a lead injection...
-
Enjoy XS650.com? Consider making a donation to help support the site.
XS650.com receives a small share of sales from some links on this page, but direct donations have a much greater impact on keeping this site going.
Mystery Solved...
- Thread starter Downeaster
- Start date
Layer flock has been shrinking...again...
Need to reset the date/time on the game camera to see if I can determine it's schedule. Looks anemic to me, I'm wanna be a Good Guy and give it a lead injection...
Pretty rare around here, shame he can't make it on his own.
Bobcat.
We've got them around here too.
Neighbors to the north of us on a dead end lane were losing chickens to foxes. Last year a Pyrenees was dumped off on the ridge and was making the rounds scrounging for food. Before animal control could catch up with him he wandered to those neighbors and settled right in, and they're glad for it.
"Lucky" immediately took charge of the chickens and now has finally stopped chasing the cows.
He has free range, of course, but stays on the farm. Sometimes in the evening I'll hear him sounding off in the hollers, letting the varmints know he's on watch. Neighbors say they've gotten used to it....
Neighbors to the north of us on a dead end lane were losing chickens to foxes. Last year a Pyrenees was dumped off on the ridge and was making the rounds scrounging for food. Before animal control could catch up with him he wandered to those neighbors and settled right in, and they're glad for it.
"Lucky" immediately took charge of the chickens and now has finally stopped chasing the cows.
He has free range, of course, but stays on the farm. Sometimes in the evening I'll hear him sounding off in the hollers, letting the varmints know he's on watch. Neighbors say they've gotten used to it....
After a couple of days of nothing, the kitty came by again yesterday afternoon around 4:30.
I bought a cheap ($40) motion sensing wireless camera and this morning I mounted it to surveil the chicken yard. It's pretty much at the fringe of wireless connection but it is working.
I let the bai...uh...chickens out this morning. Want to see A) if they even dare to come out and 2) if the camera catches them.
The two times I've gotten pictures of Bob's Kitty, it's been late afternoon, so I'm hoping that's a pattern and I can put the birds back in before he stops by for a snack.
I bought a cheap ($40) motion sensing wireless camera and this morning I mounted it to surveil the chicken yard. It's pretty much at the fringe of wireless connection but it is working.
I let the bai...uh...chickens out this morning. Want to see A) if they even dare to come out and 2) if the camera catches them.
The two times I've gotten pictures of Bob's Kitty, it's been late afternoon, so I'm hoping that's a pattern and I can put the birds back in before he stops by for a snack.
Wirenutt
XS650 Addict
I saw one last week, first one I've seen in these parts since the 70's. (S)he was stalking something in an open area, which is probably why (s)he was out of the nearby woods and 75 ft from the road.
You need to build a blind, 50 to 60 yards away from the chickens. .22 long rifle w/scope, semi-auto preferred. Straw bale hut?
Years ago I had a Collie girl that watched out for my chickens for me. Who knows what that brave girl went up against with coyotes, raccoons, weasels, fox etc. Had a few of the meanest Rhode Island roosters that lost the fight.
Last edited:
For the most part, that is my policy. However, a cat-proof pen is cost prohibitive and way more work than my tired old bod is prepared to do. There is plenty of wildlife for the cat to live on, hitting Downeaster's Chicken Buffet is a no-go.
I spotted him late yesterday and cranked off several rounds in his direction (didn't hit him, short-barreled .22 pistol) perhaps that will convince him to patronize other restaurants.
A shotgun makes a pretty convincing move along buster statement, as compared to say a 22....
Bobcats are now regulars round here. Nephew had game cam pics of mom and a pair of big "kittens". Another shot was prolly dad, an impressive size kitty.
He and some buds were calling 'Yoties (wounded rabbit screams) and a bob kitty came in to see what was up.
I played yootoob rabbit distress sounds just now and my lap kitty got VERY excited. LOL
Bobcats are now regulars round here. Nephew had game cam pics of mom and a pair of big "kittens". Another shot was prolly dad, an impressive size kitty.
He and some buds were calling 'Yoties (wounded rabbit screams) and a bob kitty came in to see what was up.
I played yootoob rabbit distress sounds just now and my lap kitty got VERY excited. LOL
My AR is even more convincing, but the .22 is a lot easier to carry around "just in case".
Might be different in the USA
And depending on where but here a shooting of predators can mean big problems.
Jail time and harassment from animal protection groups.
Honest people trying to protect their livestock One person shot a Wolf attacking his sheep
The law came down hard on him.
At times there has been hard conflicts between the big city environmentalists and fex Hunters that wants to hunt Moose
And the wolves had taken most of them Virtually No game to hunt in their domain anymore .
The few still there they cannot shoot ..needed for reproduction
Few here would tell anyone if they need to shoot. Keeping it on the Low .
And depending on where but here a shooting of predators can mean big problems.
Jail time and harassment from animal protection groups.
Honest people trying to protect their livestock One person shot a Wolf attacking his sheep
The law came down hard on him.
At times there has been hard conflicts between the big city environmentalists and fex Hunters that wants to hunt Moose
And the wolves had taken most of them Virtually No game to hunt in their domain anymore .
The few still there they cannot shoot ..needed for reproduction
Few here would tell anyone if they need to shoot. Keeping it on the Low .
There is (or at least was...) a season for hunting them, but if they're destroying livestock you're allowed to eliminate them. Only restriction is that if you want to keep the pelt, you need a tag from the Game Warden.
The ol' Euell Gibbons shared one of them with a friend and said it was good fare. Problem was swallowing the cat part of Bobcat. Tastes like chicken, you know?
