Coyote attack in the middle of the day.

[CHlCKEN]

This isn’t a question so go ahead and move it if I’m posting in the wrong forum, I’m just so frustrated and need to say something about this.

I haven’t lost a bird to a predator in nearly six years and today, while my birds were free ranging, that streak was broken. They hadn’t even been out for more than thirty minutes when a coyote jumped the six foot fence around my yard and took off with my splash Marans. I was in the barn when it happened but didn’t hear anything because I was in the tack room which has a loud portable ac unit for my barn cat. It wasn’t until I went out and saw feathers everywhere that I realized something had happened and checked the cameras.

I’m completely in shock because although I know coyotes aren’t nocturnal animals, I’ve still never considered them a daytime threat. I really had thought my birds were pretty safe in free ranging from everything except hawks and I was wrong.

The worst part about this really is that I know he’ll eventually be back, and while I trust my birds are all safe in their runs, my barn cat obviously isn’t safe to be roaming free. The issue is that it’s going to be super hot this week and the barn traps heat so locking him up in here feels cruel. At the same time I can’t take the risk so I guess supervised outside time is going to become the norm for him for a while

This really is just not how I was hoping this week would start so any words of support would be greatly appreciated as I sit with this

 

[Appalachickens]

That's tough. Does the cat have places it can run to? I would think an outdoor cat would be much better able to evade a predator than a chicken. We've seen coyotes and foxes, heard a bobcat, and had evidence of a bear all close to the house and all in the daytime, and our three outdoor cats have been fine.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I wouldn’t worry about the cat. We have loads of stray/outdoor cats out here in the country and coyotes too and because some of us keep track of the cats I have never heard of a coyote going after one. In fact I feel like we would have less of a problem if they did haha.

 

[CHlCKEN]

That's tough. Does the cat have places it can run to? I would think an outdoor cat would be much better able to evade a predator than a chicken. We've seen coyotes and foxes, heard a bobcat, and had evidence of a bear all close to the house and all in the daytime, and our three outdoor cats have been fine.

He’s been chased by dogs before and he always climbs a tree to escape. The issue is that coyotes can climb too and he’d end up trapped if that were to happen. He’s a super tiny cat, the size of the chicken the coyote took off with, so not worth risking it at all.

I wouldn’t worry about the cat. We have loads of stray/outdoor cats out here in the country and coyotes too and because some of us keep track of the cats I have never heard of a coyote going after one. In fact I feel like we would have less of a problem if they did haha.

Coyotes definitely go after cats, it’s a big issue with outdoor house cats in rural areas. My neighbor lost a barn cat to one a few years ago so I always lock mine up for the night to be safe.

 

[Appalachickens]

He’s been chased by dogs before and he always climbs a tree to escape. The issue is that coyotes can climb too and he’d end up trapped if that were to happen. He’s a super tiny cat, the size of the chicken the coyote took off with, so not worth risking it at all.

Coyotes definitely go after cats, it’s a big issue with outdoor house cats in rural areas. My neighbor lost a barn cat to one a few years ago so I always lock mine up for the night to be safe.

I understand your worry. It’s hard to imagine that a coyote could climb onto the sort of small branches that a light cat can get up onto. I guess you’ll have to balance that against keeping a cat locked in a hot barn.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

any plans to shoot or trap the coyote?

 

[Seaslug]

Shooting a coyote, in my opinion, is exactly like shooting a dog. Which, having been on here for some time, I know many people have no problem with. I am fortunate enough to have just added a Shiba Inu puppy to my household. I worry that he could dart out of the house and any of my neighbors would shoot him in a heart beat. Shibas look very similar to foxes.

Bears and coyotes both will eat domestic and feral cats, no question. The cats should not be outside. I understand that there is sometime nothing that can be done with feral cats except to spay/neuter and release.

I am sorry this is happening and wish you and all the animals the best.

 

[McChooky]

He’s been chased by dogs before and he always climbs a tree to escape. The issue is that coyotes can climb too and he’d end up trapped if that were to happen. He’s a super tiny cat, the size of the chicken the coyote took off with, so not worth risking it at all.

Coyotes definitely go after cats, it’s a big issue with outdoor house cats in rural areas. My neighbor lost a barn cat to one a few years ago so I always lock mine up for the night to be safe.

The house across from me sat vacant for 5 yrs before a family moved in and flooded our community with stray cats before moving again. Many of the kittens were rescued but the adults didn't survive long.
Bob cats,owls, raccoons and fishers also eat cats when hungry.

 

[Anon112]

I live on a property encircled by woods. Obviously this is just one anecdote, but I did a lot of reading which said that the most important thing was to have frequent things (posts, trees) that a cat can climb to escape. I ultimately decided to move all of my cats inside (one to monitor his health, the other because she was clearly starting to have hearing loss), but they went 8 years outside with no serious incidents.

That said, cats themselves do a lot of damage to wildlife, and I've decided not to have outdoor cats anymore.

I'm really sorry about the attack on your flock. I also had a great run of no issues, and then a coyote crew discovered my chickens. I've actually had two different coyote massacres over the last 8 years. One was a daring daytime attack. The other was totally my mistake: I had a long day of work and went inside to eat some dinner and lost track of how dark it was getting. I had one rooster and one hen carried off by a fox, and two other fox attacks that ended with the bird escaping and surviving.

Now, knowing that my yard is basically a buffet for several wild critters, I only have my chickens free ranging when I can directly supervise them outside. I've never felt it was very "fair" to try to hurt or kill any of the coyotes or foxes. It feels a bit like dangling chum in the water and then getting all bent out of shape when a shark shows up. (Living basically fully circled by the woods, I'm the one encroaching on their territory, not the other way around).

 

[McChooky]

This isn’t a question so go ahead and move it if I’m posting in the wrong forum, I’m just so frustrated and need to say something about this.

I haven’t lost a bird to a predator in nearly six years and today, while my birds were free ranging, that streak was broken. They hadn’t even been out for more than thirty minutes when a coyote jumped the six foot fence around my yard and took off with my splash Marans. I was in the barn when it happened but didn’t hear anything because I was in the tack room which has a loud portable ac unit for my barn cat. It wasn’t until I went out and saw feathers everywhere that I realized something had happened and checked the cameras.

I’m completely in shock because although I know coyotes aren’t nocturnal animals, I’ve still never considered them a daytime threat. I really had thought my birds were pretty safe in free ranging from everything except hawks and I was wrong.

The worst part about this really is that I know he’ll eventually be back, and while I trust my birds are all safe in their runs, my barn cat obviously isn’t safe to be roaming free. The issue is that it’s going to be super hot this week and the barn traps heat so locking him up in here feels cruel. At the same time I can’t take the risk so I guess supervised outside time is going to become the norm for him for a while

This really is just not how I was hoping this week would start so any words of support would be greatly appreciated as I sit with this

I fully support your efforts to give your chickens a better life and am truly sorry for your loss! Unlike dogs coyotes kill for food and are opportunistic feeders so it might be a good idea not leave them unattended for awhile.Its too hot to leave them locked up everyday