12 hens and 1 rooster lost in 2 days

[fancbrd4me02]

Quote:
Really? I would have never thought of this. That is a really interesting idea, esspecially in areas where the coyotes are feeling a real push in terms of territory.

Except providing a nonnatural food source for the coyotes will only mean more coyotes, right? Nature limits predators naturally when prey is limited, and allows predator numbers to increase when prey is more plentiful.

I disagree with providing rabbits as food. First, you don't even know if the coyotes are the ones eating the rabbits. Second, coyotes will take the easiest meal, so leaving acess to your garbage would be a better distraction than releaasing moving targets. Not that I am advocating that, i'm just saying that would actually work better.

 

[horsejody]

If there is a pack, you might get by just shooting one. They are pretty smart and recognize and avoid danger. It's also an old trick to shoot one and hang the carcass for a while to give others a chance to see that it's dangerous territory for coyotes.

 

[blueskylen]

Here in WV they are starting to become a real problem - we can hear them howling at night and all the dogs barking to keep them away. Coyotes can be the most awful killers, as they try to keep their prey alive as long as possible when eating it. I cannot stand the thoughts of them being so close, and would shoot any of them that i would come across.

 

[FaereChicken]

I'm in favor of Coop Knox. We can't just shoot everything that runs counter to our interests - we'd spend all of our time shooting. That solution has proven over the years to be impractical.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

Quote:
I really don't think coyotes actually try to keep thier prey alive while they eat it. Hunting is dangerous to any predator as they have a risk of being injured and unable to hunt/die of infection so it is to a predator's advantage to subdue/kill prey as quickly as possible. If a predator breaks a limb or a tooth that could be a death sentence to the predator - any predator. What may confuse you is that sometimes pack animals engage in "training/practice" for thier young/pups and they might not kill an animal right away, as the youngsters are learning how to bring down prey. But that's not for fun or to keep it alive for pleasure - it's for survival training for pups and pack members.

 

[QuinnP]

*****falls off chair*****

I am sorry for the loss. HUGS

 

[Chickens-246]

Quote:
Except providing a nonnatural food source for the coyotes will only mean more coyotes, right? Nature limits predators naturally when prey is limited, and allows predator numbers to increase when prey is more plentiful.

I disagree with providing rabbits as food. First, you don't even know if the coyotes are the ones eating the rabbits. Second, coyotes will take the easiest meal, so leaving acess to your garbage would be a better distraction than releaasing moving targets. Not that I am advocating that, i'm just saying that would actually work better.

Although the coyote has been observed killing sheep, poultry and other livestock, it does not subsist on domestic animals. Food habit studies reveal that its principle diet is composed of mice, rabbits, ground squirrels, other small rodents, insects, even reptiles, and fruits and berries of wild plants.

Source: http://www.desertusa.com/june96/du_cycot.html

I don't see how rabbits is a non-natural food source for coyotes, as well that they would prefer trashcan contents over a rabbit or chicken.

I haven't had any problems with wild predators, because mine are well feed with wild rabbits.​