Are there seasons for predator attacks?

[A_Fowl_Guy]

This is a coyote I have been seeing lately. This is a grow-out coop.

This was some nights ago behind the other coops.

All I see with coyotes is money. Their pelts go for quite a bit here haha!

 

[cmom]

You are welcome to come down and get some. I have an idea where their den might be on a neighbors property. He would like to thin them out.

 

[Phx_chicken_mom]

Thank you all so much! I've lurked on here for over a year. I feel a little bit better knowing that the winter and spring are rough and time to be more vigilant. We live in the suburbs on a 1/2 acre, but are right near a huge desert preserve and have lots of coyotes and one resident bobcat. Right before this happened we were discussing putting up a camera in the backyard, just to see what was going on, now we definitely will!

Just can't wait for all my new baby chicks!!

 

[cmom]

Many years ago I had a coyote jump over a 5 ft. fence into a pen and I ended up loosing 3 birds. After the coyote had jumped back over the fence it was chasing a bird through the back yard just a few feet from my back porch. I had some bird shot in my shotgun but shot at it anyway. I'm sure I hit it but didn't kill it and it took off. I found the bird it was chasing alive but it died the next day. After that I reinforced everything.

 

[fldiver97]

Sorry for your loss! I live in town but my backyard goes into a stretch of conservancy and down the hill is a creek. Backyard has 5 ft fence, so far coyotes have not tried to get over or under the fence. For foxes, weasel and raccoons it’s not a deterrent though. Lots of owls and hawks too. The girls have lots of areas to seek cover from aerial predators but I usually don’t let them roam unless I am home especially winter and early spring. Sturdy coop with roofed attached run, hardware cloth and all around the coop and run 16” patio stones. If we start spotting predators during daytime the girls may have to go in the run for a while. Even with a sturdy run I still close the pop door to the coop every night. (A few years back a weasel had snuck in the coop-no one was hurt but it was a reminder!!). Congrats on your wedding! Enjoy your new flock

 

[Wendy Case]

This is a coyote I have been seeing lately. This is a grow-out coop.

This was some nights ago behind the other coops.

Wow! Good catch!!

 

[Wendy Case]

Many years ago I had a coyote jump over a 5 ft. fence into a pen and I ended up loosing 3 birds. After the coyote had jumped back over the fence it was chasing a bird through the back yard just a few feet from my back porch. I had some bird shot in my shotgun but shot at it anyway. I'm sure I hit it but didn't kill it and it took off. I found the bird it was chasing alive but it died the next day. After that I reinforced everything.

Whoa! Too close for comfort! I keep a high powered .22 close to the coop. Locked and loaded!! Did he come back after you sprayed him?

 

[cmom]

I have a .22 and a 410. Not sure if that one ever came back but I still see coyotes frequently. We are on a dead end rd. The dirt part of the right-of-way which doesn't go through I see mostly fox and coyotes. This is an older picture. They use the trail like an interstate.

 

[Ra_]

Each Spring many species of raptor migrates North for the cooler weather.
They fly back South in the Fall.
Many people see the most hawks as they pass through their area during these periods.

 

[mandelyn]

Migrating birds of prey in Spring and Fall. Having a pair of them around nesting is way more beneficial than not, since they focus on rodents for the young AND scare off others from their territory. Nesting hawks need food they can carry easily.

The rest of the gauntlet... breeding season when they have young to feed or Winter when it's slim pickings. All will keep an eye out for opportunity, if they happen to be in the area.

If they have success once, they'll try again.