Coyote killing my flock & need help (in NJ) UPDATE

[wpalmisano]

The coyotes here in the New England came down through Minnesota. During the migration, they bred with timber wolves. As a result, our coyotes are much larger than their western cousin. A few years ago people were calling them Coy dogs, saying that their larger size was the result of breeding with domestic dogs, however recent genetic testing reveals they are actually 10-20% timber wolf. They are more clever, less fearful, and have virtually wiped out feral cats in our area. Now they have moved on to deer, game birds, pets, livestock, and a google search will prove they are attacking humans. Usually some idiot in the neighborhood is feeding them. 2 here in Connecticut last year. There are missing cat posters all over my town. I see them often, there is no mistaking their gait, and the bushy tail. I hear them almost every night, it sounds like puppies playing in the field behind my house at 2 a.m. I have lost more birds to various domestic cats, and rodents, such as coons and possums. The coyotes eat these rodents. Every pen and coop I have built is coyote resistant, and sturdy. Nothing is coyote proof.
You want to get rid of them ? You can shoot, poison, trap, and kill every one you see and a new one will simply take its place. In response to low numbers, they simply breed more. The answer in my opinion is to keep your birds cooped, make sure there is nothing for the coyotes to eat, like pet food and mice and rats, put in electric fence, rescue a " livestock dog " such as a Great Pyrenees that can handle itself and has an instinct to guard, not eat, and generally accept varmits as a "cost of doing business." I spend more money to build sturdier pens, but in the long run save money by losing less poultry. I am not above plunking the occasional coyote, but you won't be able to "kill your way out of it. " Anyway, that's just my humble opinion.

 

[Sweetpeaswan]

This is pretty amazing...First I'm so sorry to hear about your birds...it hurts when we loose them like that. I lived in Jersey most of my life,
9 of them in Jackson before my husband retired from a local police dept. We relocated to Arizona about 41/2 years ago, and have
had many dealings with coyotes, lord they're everywhere and can be a nuisance. What a lot of folks don't realize is that though NJ is
a small state theres a lot going on. The escaped tiger the Jackson PD Had to shoot(escaped from a tiger preserve in jackson) and lets
not forget six flags and their wildlife(yes they've gotten out!!) oh and the black bear in my neighborhood off of Hyson Rd. New Jersey
has it all.
When our coyote problem started., we found it coincided with the irrigating of the alfalfa field next to the ranch, the water and little fish
out of the canal came., the birds came to eat the little fish, and the coyotes waited on the berms and caught the birds, then they wandered
over to our pens. We scared them away the first time they were trying to dig in underneath. We ended up digging a trench around our
pens and laid down wire mesh. They came back one more time and made such a rutkis the foreman was able to shoot one. we haven't
had much of a problem since then, but learning their patterns helped us prepare and know when to be on the watch.

We love the desert but miss the beach!!! good luck to you

 

[mrszlopez]

well, the coyote attacks have been all over the news, so she knows of the danger.. i guess she has a mindset of "it will never happen to us" . but im preparing for the worst.. i highly highly doubt i will end up killing the thing, because i ont think i could ever live with myself. so like ive always preached, i will take every necessary measure to protect my flock. if all else fails, only then will i turn to the killing method. i feel that i should report it only because of all of the attacks that have happend in the area. i will update probably tomorrow night or early sunday morning with whats going on.. thanks again everyone for your replies

 

[mrszlopez]

Quote:
yes, you would never expect this in nj. i think its got a lot to do with so much construction & basically pushing them out of their rightful land. i feel horrible either way. & we are actually right off of the border of Jackson.. more towards the lakehurst naval station.

 

[Sweetpeaswan]

wow Conn. That was truly interesting and very scary....hope that person dosen't continue to put food out, what are people thinking??
thanks again for the great info,.

 

[Sweetpeaswan]

Well your dealing with the Piney's down there, and theres so much wildlife coming back to the area...Before we left we saw our first pair
of Bald Eagles flying around iN Howell. It just goes to show you how resiliant life is. We heard you folks had a real hot summer,
Hope your birds to well and just keep your eyes peeled!!

 

[streetglide]

Predators are always a concern. Just remember, we're the top of the food chain! We should be smarter!
I'm in North Central Maryland we've got the coyote plague as well...and the foxes and the racoons and the opossums and the hawks and occasionally an eagle, not mention neighborhood dogs. Sheesh, it's a wonder any of my flock survive!
Buried wire mesh around run, 1/2 in hardware cloth on run, hardware cloth on coop window, buried wire mesh around coop itself, and then bought an inexpensive electric fencer and ran wire around the base, up about 16 inches and zig zagged over the top. Over kill? Probably, but they're my kids!
Oh and then there's a loaded rifle and shotgun in the diningroom corner...and a killer Cocker Spaniel who can be unleashed in a flash. Just have to remember not to shoot a gun before the Killer Cocker has time to run and hide!

 

[sourland]

Realistically, there are only two ways you can protect your animals. It sounds like in your situation and mindset, the best would be to fortify and electric fence your pens. If this is not feasible, coyotes must be killed. They are smart. They know when people are to be feared and when not. Our "encroaching" on their environment has not had a negative effect upon their populations. The exact opposite is true. Coyote populations have expanded to the point where they are now present throught the country. They survive readily in city environments and developments. Wasteful, non-thinking people provide a ready source of food through their pets, garbage, feed on the back porch, and sadly enough their poultry. Just as over socialized roosters lose respect for and attack humans over habituated coyotes look upon us a food source-both literally and figuratively. If we choose to keep animals, it is our duty to assure their protection. Good luck, I know from your previous posts that this is a particularly difficult situation for you. I don't understand the "This will never happen to us" mind set. Kids right down the road from you (Middletown) have been attacked by coyotes.

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
To add: First I believe they also came down to the eastern states through Canada beginning in the 1930's--I saw my first ones in 1945 in the Catskills. The Eastern coyote is to the Western about like a standard poodle is to a miniature in size. They certainly aren't endangered but in many states--NY being one--there is a closed season on them. Another thing is they are very territorial so if the group--they also tend to be in family packs--in your area is leaving you alone, don't mess with them as if you eliminate them you can't be sure what will move in next. Besides cats and foxes, they will take a small dog up to at least a beagle in size and will also do a job on bigger dogs--I had to put down a full grown Springer Spaniel that was mauled in an attack and my neighbor lost his Doberman to them, so unless your dog is huge it may not come off very well if they make a concerted effort to defend themselves. (It turned out there was a den close by and, apparently, the parents were eliminating the canine competition.)

I suggest contacting the local fish and game department, as they will recommend a licensed trapper that will remove them but, be forewarned, more will take their place. I was told by an wildlife expert that every hill between the Atlantic and Mississippi has a family of coyotes living on it.

 

[Giammona farm]

You should look into traps or a .22. I don't know leg hold traps are legal in your state. We have had coyote attacks on some of our free ranging hens but the .22 put an end to the to them.