12 hens and 1 rooster lost in 2 days

[flour-girl]

I am in anguish. I saw a coyote with Rooster Brooster in his mouth. I don't know how to handle the pain. A pack of at least 3 coyotes descended on my family, and I don't want my husband to kill them. Killing coyotes is killing puppies, right? But losing my pet chickens is unacceptable. HOW do I repel the coyotes and protect the integrity of my free-ranging flock of wonderful girls.....they give me gifts every day.....they provide my husband's breakfast....They provide the cakes and brownies and hand-made pasta of my friends and neighbors.....

I suffer with the loss of each one of my chickens....but how can I justify keeping them, when wild coyotes (who lived here before I did) need to eat, too? I think I'm giving it up. I can't stand it when a cute little doggie needs food, and steals my husband's breakfast!?!

Kind Regards, Flour-Girl

 

[greathorse]

In my experience coyotes are one of the least intrusive of all predators in terms of breaking into a coop/run. They will take easy pickings if you are free ranging 24-7 or even just during the day without a dog or hot wire for protection. I suggest you figure out a coop/run situation that will keep predators at bay. I have no problem shooting coyotes, I frankly just don't think it offers a lot of protection, there are more coyotes than we can shoot. Prevention is your best option.

 

[Dogfish]

Do not make the mistake of equating coyotes with puppies.

Coyotes are efficient smart predators. Thinking of them any other way is only fooling yourself.

They will kill anything they get a chance to kill, so we kill upwards of 60 each year in three valleys within 30 miles of where we live. Yes, they reproduce, but unless you instill a fear in them, they get bolder. Every farmer thanks us, because if we didn't do what we do, their losses would be worse than yours.

This isn't a Bambi movie, and I'm realy sorry for the loss of your birds. Sorry for being blunt.

 

[arch_cpj]

Coyotes are far from puppies there are no wolves anymore and wolves keep coyotes in check so now coyotes are top predater in some parts of the country moms have had toddlers being dragged away by a coyote and dogs and cats happen all the time... An apex predater like a coyote has to have fear of humans remember in all reality all primates us included are prey animals... The only reason we arenot is we have brains big enough to develope weapons... If you wing a couple coyotes they may decide to move on... I highly reccommend you invest in a good electric fence and you DO NOT keep the flock out at night if the coyotes are brazen enough to go after your flock i nthe day time then they will go after you or your family dogs etc the only solution for that local group is a bullet...

 

[Jen71]

Wow. They sound brave... and hungry.
I agree that prevention is probably your best option right now.

Let them go look elsewhere for their meal - where it's less work. Perhaps right now, your girls are "easy pickings"?

Good luck. I hope you find a solution.

 

[sourland]

Coyotes are not puppies! They will readily eat your dogs and cats. Here in New Jersey of all places there have been several attacks upon children-so watch your kids too. A good fence with electric fencing as a protector will work. Killing the coyotes will work. Free ranging will not work unless the coyotes are killed.

 

[jjthink]

I was thinking that by puppies she might have meant that the coyotes might have pups and if their parents get shot (or can't find food) the pups will die.

Very sad about these losses - poor birds

Unfortunately, any remaining birds you have are now a target and will be taken unless you get them in lockdown right away and get a fence up in an area for them to get their exercise and semi-free range.

sourland, are you per chance in the Sourland Mountain part of NJ?

JJ

 

[hoosier]

The farmer behind us organized a hunt when the coyotes started killing his calves. I only let mine free range in the back field if I am there because of them and hawks.

 

[speckledhen]

Unless you have a couple of Livestock Guardian Dogs who are large enough to deter them, you will have to shoot them. There isn't much else you can do once they find the Chicken Buffet and keep coming back.

 

[MI Flock]

We have quite a coyote problem here is SE Michigan. We hear them at night all the time. They sound like a bunch of squealing hyenas. A few weeks ago we saw FIVE of them in the late afternoon back behind my barn. My son walked out toward the barn and they started moving back towards the woods. They didn't seem to be as afraid of him as I hoped. They just kind of trotted away while looking over their shoulder at him.