Coyote Problem *Update* w/ graphic pic

[chickenman98]

I had the same problem. One day about noon i looked outside and saw something behind a fencepost about 10 yd from the back porch. I didn't think anything about it, because I thought it was a chicken until I saw it's ears. Me (I'm 13) and my dad grabbed our guns but it was to late. He was gone with half of one of our barred rocks and our dark cornish was missing. I was mad because the Cornish that was missing was one of my favorites, so I downloaded a chicken distress call and burned it to a cd. I played that forever and it didn't come back up. That night when I put the chickens up, I heard some leaves crunching, and my dark Cornish (her name is Eva) came running out of a brush pile. My mom went out to look in the brush pile and there was 17 eggs in there. Fast forward about a week and one morning about 5:00 AM our dog started barking like crazy, and my dad went out there because I was asleep and shot the coyote. There were 2 of them but he only got 1. We haven't had anymore problems, but we did get rid of the dog because she killed our white rock roo, and we got an English Shepard. He is only like 3 months old and the entire time since we killed that coyote we didn't have any more problems, until last night when our pup started barking and we went outside and there were a few coyotes. So if you want to get rid of the coyote problem you should have a good dog and a gun.

 

[rancher hicks]

This is quite scary. I haven't seen any coyotes but I've heard they are around. I did lose a chicken a few days or so ago but don't know how. I suspect fox.

I don't own a gun but my birds are in a fenced in yard for now. I do expect to build two coops that won't be fenced in for a while except I may use those green metal stakes they sell and run some chickens wire to keep them in.

What I am doing now is a deterent and I know unorthodox but I haven't been doing it for some time and I suspect that's why the fox was so bold. I've hung rags on different areas of the yard on the fence and in the surrounding woods a few places. Then when I'm out working in the yard or collecting eggs or what ever I "water" them. I told you it was unorthodoxed. This of course is something for the men to do, or older boys I suppose.

I used to see a rabbit or two when I went out at night but haven't lately. I hope to again.

I got the idea from a movie on wolves.

Now if I had the problems some are having I'd def have no problem shooting them or getting someone else to do it. Coyote pelts may be worth something I guess.

Take care and be safe,

rancher

 

[carolinagirl58]

Quote:
Great pyranees is a good choice, but not the Austrialian sheepdog. Those are herding dogs, not livestock guardian dogs.

 

[chickenman98]

The English Shepard breeder we got our dog from said that they protect chickens, and several articles on the Internet said that too.

 

[woodmort]

Since you live in VA you probably have the Eastern coyote which can get a bit bigger than the Western variety(like the difference between a miniature and standard poodle) and will take on a fairly good sized dog. I'd go along with the advice given above and find a local trapper, most are more than willing to clean them out for you. Normally local coyotes are harmless until they find humans are a good source of food--garbage, pet food, chickens, cats, etc--at which point they have to be eliminated. If you're handy with it and don't have to worry about background keep a .22 mag rifle handy--they're big enough to drop a coyote.

 

[mikensara]

our neighbors have a deer farm and they have a persistent coyote problem. we hear them alot some nights sounds like they are just at the edge of our yard. coyotes hunt in packs usually. our neighbors have 2 llamas who have nasty attitudes which is why they purchased them their former owner had to send them on their way. coyotes are smart once they know they have found a target they will come back so you may see them many times more.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

Had a coyote problem a few years back. They were killing a lamb a morning (9 total). Got the 2 my daughter was going to take to the 4H fair. I am/was quite a hunter in my day and know that if you call them in and do not get them the 1st time you have trained that coyote not to come to that call ever again. That is why I called the local sporting outfitter store and got the name of the best predator/coyote hunter they knew of. He came and in 20 minutes knew where they were denned up. He came back later that week when the wind was right and killed the pair. He made it look easy but I know it is not easy. The den was about a 1/2 mile away within eye sight from my living room window and I didn't know it was there. We have a llama that has done a good job protecting the sheep but I have no idea if one would work around poultry. I wish you luck.

 

[noitulover]

To update you guys, we kept the chickens locked up all day yesterday. They weren't happy about it, but we didn't lose any.

DH got a coyote call and sat out for several hours trying to lure one in, but to no avail. We will probably try this a few more days and if we still have no luck, then we may move on to hiring a trapper. We know pretty much where the pack goes, just not where their den is. They move about a mile up and down the river over our property. They big problem is that our farm is ideal for them. It's not like if they can't get chickens, they'll just leave. They've got river access, acres and acres of woods, and a few bordering properties with livestock as well.

We'll get them though.

Thanks for everyone's advice!

 

[bethinoklahoma]

fenced in our 16 acres to keep stuff like this out.
HELPS alot but dosnt stop stuff.
Trap and relocate, one way or another.

 

[bethinoklahoma]