Coyote leaping over fence

[katharinad]

We have been out here for over 10 years and know that there are 3 packs of coyotes around our property. Well our valley only has 2 neighbors and hundreds of acres of forest around us. None of it will ever get developed and the nearest house after us is 5 miles away. We have closed all holes going into our 22 acres years ago and haven't had a coyote in it since. Today we had one in the meadow so we went out with the riffle to get it. Sucker saw us and ran to the fence and leaped right over it. We have a farm fence that is over 5 feet tall. I have never seen one leap over it like a deer. Bummer! Good news is that the ducks are not going into the meadow yet. The coyote was hunting rodents when we saw him. This means that we will need to go much higher with our planed duck enclosure when we will build it this summer. We are working on one run now, but that one is only be 4.5 feet tall. It's more an enclosure of the orchard and vegetable garden. Haven't done much vegetable gardening since I had my stomach surgery. Had a hard time eating for over a year, but I'm much better now and will grow again next year. This area will be fine in the daytime, since it is right close to the house. Unlike the meadow. Does anyone have any suggestions on how high the duck enclosure fence should be to keep coyotes out. We have non flying Saxony ducks.

 

[silkieroo]

I don't know, maybe you could put netting over the top to discorage them jumping over? Just a suggestion.

 

[Kim65]

I would use five foot fencing and a nice hotwire another six inches above it. Or razor wire

I just put two adult llamas in my pasture to guard my goats. My property is three acres only, long and narrow and the back is bordered by a river. The coyotes come up from there. So far I've only seen a "pup", but he stared at me curiously until I was ten feet away, then ran.

Llamas are easy keepers, eat pasture, browse and hay, with no need for alfalfa or grain except as a treat. They are territorial and hate coyotes. They will chase them and stomp them to death. They will keep stray dogs away, too.

Llamas in general are very respectful of fencing, even a four or five foot pasture fence. They like to "stay home". There is a buyer's market for llamas right now, thanks to the economy, and I got a young male for about two hundred and a bred female show llama for a bit more from a guy downsizing his herd. I've had mine for a week now and am surprised at how little trouble they are, easy keepers, and very friendly with the goats.

My poultry pen and yard is between the house and their pasture. I still have coons, possums, skunks and now owls to worry about, but I covered my poultry pen with netting. At least the coyotes won't come too far up the property to discover my poultry, or the goat kids I hope to have next spring. It's another animal to tend to, but easier/cheaper than a dog (who might eat your poultry). Your 22 acres is MORE than plenty of pasture for a couple of llamas.

 

[katharinad]

Only I have 4 dogs too. They go along fine with the ducks, but I do keep them separate when I'm not around. I was just amazed how good this sucker jumped the fence. I guess we have to go with 6 foot fencing for the duck enclosure. The enclosure will be about one acre, with a smaller enclosure within for roundup. Will be electric fenced on top of it. We have great horned owls living in our trees. So far no problem, just have to keep the babies in an aviary.

 

[chickboss]

The llama thing isn't a bad idea. There was one listed as free here not too long ago. My horses chase down dogs, and trust me, the dogs learn quick (lol, nothing like 1000lbs commin your way to make you straighten up ) and then everyone is fine. You might consider it. That, or an emu...LOL. There were some listed her for only $30 a chick.

 

[Amiga]

I have such a tiny place - for their day yard they will be in a three foot high fence with fenced top. They get to cruise the garden beds with me sometimes, so they are not stuck there all the time. I just want them to have a bit more elbow room that is predator-resistant when I am away (right now they have their house and night pen that seem to be secure).

There is such a thing as "cat fence," which is actually something that sits on top of regular fence. It extends somewhat horizontally and is flexible. The idea is that anything trying to leap the fence will not be able to clear the width of the fence topper, and if they try landing on it to make the fence in two bounds, the fence top flexes downward in the direction the animal came from - they end up on the same side of the fence they started from.

I think the llamas sound like a cool solution, myself

We have coyotes, here, by the way, and foxes. Both have been known to make daytime raids. I have electric fence. When I get the day yard up, I plan to run a wire about six inches from the ground and another one just above the top edge. But it won't touch something that just clean jumps up on top of the fence. Again, because it is a small area, I opted for fencing across the top (my beloved did not want a six foot high fence in the yard).

 

[jmc]

Cat fence? i've heard of doing the floppy top fence thing, but i never knew such a thing actually was made for that specific purpose and with a 'proper' name. have any more info about that. may be a good subject for another thread.
coyotes can easily jump a five foot fence and they can climb over a 7-8 foot fence. yes easily and if they have a good running start, even more easily. of course it all depends on your particular coys, how desperate they are, etc. it seems to me that a higher fence with a floppy top IF they become a problem may be the thing. would be cheaper i think and more reliable than an electric thing. i have plans for my own style of floppy top should the coys around here become a problem. but of course, that cat fence has me curios now. good luck

 

[kelar]

Do yourself a favor and cover the entire top of the run with sturdy chicken wire with enough framing to keep it from sagging. We formerly had a 6 ft. high run covered with bird netting. One morning a coyote climbed the side of the run, went right through the bird netting and dropped into the pen. By the time I awoke and ran out, it had killed 19 birds. They are excellent climbers and bird netting won't keep them out. The top of our run is now framed, coverd with small mesh chicken wire PLUS a layer of field fencing on top of that and around the sides. We now know not to ever underestimate the determination of a hungry predator.

 

[katharinad]

We will have a larger duck house for the night, as we have one now. Need that because of all the predators out here. They get locked into their duck house every night, so we are covered on that end. It will have a smaller run connected to the duck house and we have decided to have it covered with a roof and have welded wire going up all the way. Lower part with be hardware cloth under ground and going up the welded wire, in addition to the electric charger. The larger outer run will be 6 feet, so we are kind of taking a chance in the daytime, but I think it will be ok. I was just surprised that a coyote can leap a fence like that. Never had seen that before. At least we saw it before we started our new duck house, pen, and outer run project. Would be harder to upgrade later. Also we have all Ponderosa pine trees on the property. Their needles will make a mess on any bird netting or what ever we put on top. It's better to put a roof onto things.

 

[arch_cpj]

Quote:
not razr wire but 2 strands of electrified barb wire 15 gage will suffice pulled nice and taunt will discourage any aerobatics also discorages 2 legged types as well...