Dogs scared off a Coyote

[MetalFarm]

Looked too big to be a fox. If I'd thought quicker I probably could have gotten a shot off. My 2 dogs scared it off. I have two dogs that sleep in a shed with a 4 foot fence and 30 chickens that sleep in a locked hen house. This happened in broad daylight while I was outside.
Is it coming back? What next??

 

[Mutt Farm]

Looked too big to be a fox. If I'd thought quicker I probably could have gotten a shot off. My 2 dogs scared it off. I have two dogs that sleep in a shed with a 4 foot fence and 30 chickens that sleep in a locked hen house. This happened in broad daylight while I was outside.
Is it coming back? What next??

Hi!

Yeah, it's very likely coming back. A coyote wouldn't feel a bit bad grabbing a quick easy meal in broad daylight. Do you think it was a loner or do they run in packs in your area? If I interpret correctly, the chickens are free-range during the day and go in a secure coop at night? You have 2 goats and 2 dogs? A coyote can fly over a 6' fence if they want to. Do the dogs stay out at night where they can alert? Dogs are a great deterrent, but can't always stop a snatch and grab. If you free range, you might want to investigate poultry netting like LB mentioned. If the coyote has been there twice and had a chicken dinner, he may become habituated as a poultry killer and may need to be dispatched. Best of luck and keep us updated?

 

[drumstick diva]

If there is a pack of coyotes they will draw your dogs farther out and then ambush them or distract them while others attack the farm animals.

 

[Mutt Farm]

So in thinking setting a couple traps in the bean field is my best option at this point. It's either that or sell my goats.

Is trapping going to do the job?

Will they go away once the beans have been plowed and the brush has died off??

Thanks for all the great replies!

You're welcome. I'm going to say ditto on everything that's been offered so far. April and I must be neighbors! Here, seems they send in one a couple times to grab a snack and look around, then they'll strike in a pack and kill everything. A neighbor lost most of his chickens, 8 turkeys and his dog in one night. 6' horse fencing run with several strands of hot wire around the Pigmys and chickens should do it, or electric poultry netting to free range. You can pick the size. About the goats, what is their fence like and how big is their area? I have an idea... Could you post pictures of the areas to give us a better take? If the goat pen isn't too big I may have a solution.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Electric fencing need regular repairs and maintenance to keep the grass off it, and deer regularly break it running through. It's actually a high maintenance fencing and goat learn how to get out of it when it is shorting out.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We have a donkey and that jerk didnt make a peep when the coyotes were in the yard. I also have electric fence up around the patures now but they figured that out and came in from the front. The last time we had one in the barnyard was a couple months ago, i got a picture of it on one of my trail cameras. If they know there is food to be had at your place, they will keep coming back regardless if the field is plowed or not. Yes, you can deter them and be successful at that but, they will always be around and will always test fences just to see if you let your guard down. When it comes to coyotes, we always shoot if it is safe to do so, no one likes them out here one bit!

Donkeys are jerks, I'm agreeing with you, shoot the trouble makers, it's the only sure way of dealing with them, a fort Knox of electric wire isn't reasonable.

 

[MeepBeep]

Some people just don't understand that shooting is a temporary fix, I am not talking about anyone on this forum, just in my experience with other livestock owners.

Nothing is a permanent fix, all preventative measures also require upkeep and will sometimes fail...

A new animal will take the old one's place and be just as bad if not worse.

I hear this all the time, but to be blunt, in my experience it can take months if not years before a new predator moves into the area and is comfortable enough to encroach or threaten my animals... In many cases they are not nearly 'as bad or worse' in fact I have found the new ones to be much more timid then the old one that had become comfortable with the area and showed little to no fear of me even in broad daylight...

Next thing you know, your constantly shooting animals just trying to survive. It isn't practical in many situations. If I shot every predator that threatened my animals, I would be sitting outside with a gun all day. I prevent instead, so much easier and more reasonable. I use several security systems:

Been shooting predators that get too comfortable and close my entire life and can't say I relate to it being anything near a full time or even part time job, only a few a year at most...

 

[CLSranch]

Try your best that is reasonable with your fencing. Ask your neighbors what they do to keep them at bay. And I keep a 30-30 loaded and close at all times. No kids in my house to worry about. Safety first. Trapping a yote isn't just easy, but will catch the ones that are coming up. If they are close enough to trap they are close enough to get a goat or chicken. The neighbors may know a hunter/trapper that'd love to come help.

 

[MetalFarm]

I've got no problem shooting it. But I don't have all day to sit out there and wait for it to come back. I also don't have a rifle smaller than a 308 so I'm working with a shotgun or a hand gun. I'm still thinking I'll pick up a trap and see what happens. There's a perfect spot for one between my yard and the beans which is exactly where I saw him running off. My dogs can't get to it they're on invisible fence.

 

[123RedBeard]

Only trouble with 308 is if you have close neighbors ... Be sure of what is beyond the target.

#4 buckshot or #2 birdshot will work on coyotes ... Full or extra full chokes help with range.