I've raised chickens for eight years in the pure wilderness of Minnesota in a very safe, secure coop that was designed to prevent all kinds of predators. I've never had a single chicken taken by a predator, and we live where there have been wolves, hawks, falcons, eagles, foxes, coyotes, and even bears.
So today, I was down by the house watering my garden at about 3:00 in the afternoon. I suddenly heard all of the chickens start squawking and making such a racket that I ran up the hill to check on them. I didn't see anything at first, but I heard a rustling in the leaves by the fence (the coop is surrounded on three sides by a thicket/forest) and saw an animal running away. It looked to be canine, so I thought it was a fox, but then it turned back and looked at me, and I could see it was obviously a coyote. It was long gone by the time I returned with my bow and arrow, but I was so worried it would come back that I spent an hour no more than 100 feet away from the coop. Feeling glad that I got two roosters to protect the flock.
I confused because I've never had coyotes bother the chickens before, and I've never seen one in that general area either. Luckily there was no damage, so I think the coyote was just prowling around. Still scared the chickens half to death, poor things. I know coyotes are opportunistic animals, but it strikes me odd that it would attack during the afternoon since they are generally nocturnal
Will the coyote come back? If so, how soon? Any products I could use to prevent an attack or discourage them? Thanks in advance.
So today, I was down by the house watering my garden at about 3:00 in the afternoon. I suddenly heard all of the chickens start squawking and making such a racket that I ran up the hill to check on them. I didn't see anything at first, but I heard a rustling in the leaves by the fence (the coop is surrounded on three sides by a thicket/forest) and saw an animal running away. It looked to be canine, so I thought it was a fox, but then it turned back and looked at me, and I could see it was obviously a coyote. It was long gone by the time I returned with my bow and arrow, but I was so worried it would come back that I spent an hour no more than 100 feet away from the coop. Feeling glad that I got two roosters to protect the flock.
I confused because I've never had coyotes bother the chickens before, and I've never seen one in that general area either. Luckily there was no damage, so I think the coyote was just prowling around. Still scared the chickens half to death, poor things. I know coyotes are opportunistic animals, but it strikes me odd that it would attack during the afternoon since they are generally nocturnal
Will the coyote come back? If so, how soon? Any products I could use to prevent an attack or discourage them? Thanks in advance.