Coyote trouble

[Bamabexchicks]

Thank you so much for the info. I will definitely look into these suggestions. I will do pretty much anything to keep my girls safe, and the coyotes are a huge threat. They haven’t been a problem until now, so I didn’t know what to think. Again, thanks for everything!

I had to do some research b/c of dogs,coyotes, and foxes in my area. The hot fence is the least expensive and easiest way I found to protect my girls 24/7. You can't watch them round the clock, and can only haze predators away if you are there when they are. Shopping at TSC allowed me to fence a good sized property for less than $300.

 

[guineapeeps]

I agree...the coyotes will be back and it’s only a matter of time until they kill your chickens. I had a coyote come into my yard in the middle of the day and kill 9 of my guinea keets. When I heard the commotion from my guineas and came outside, it was not even really scared of me. Likewise, a fox got one of my adult guineas and once it realized there was a meal to be had, him and his friends started coming into my property in the middle of the day while I was out in the yard. Predators only get more bold with time. Once they eat one of your chickens, you will have a tough time getting rid of them, so I would use any means possible to keep that from happening.

 

[WindingRoad]

Thank you so much for the info. I will definitely look into these suggestions. I will do pretty much anything to keep my girls safe, and the coyotes are a huge threat. They haven’t been a problem until now, so I didn’t know what to think. Again, thanks for everything!

Don't forget about rabies. I hope your dog is protected if he/she decide to tangle with one of those coyotes. When they get brazen it can mean they do have rabies. Good luck wire up...

 

[Rammy]

I would also invest in some electric fencing. You said its cute when your dog climbs the fence. How cute is she/he going to look when it gets torn to pieces by a pack of coyotes? It has happened to others with bigger dogs like pyrenees and rottweillers. Not trying to scare you but if those coyotes want your chickens your dog will not stop them for long. The electric fence will protect your chickens and keep your dog safe, too.

 

[PirateGirl]

Again, not knowing how big of an area we are talking, or your existing setup, here is another option that might help. Premier makes electric poultry netting on a solar charger. You can use it to make a small pasture area for your chickens and move it around to different parts of your property for grazing. This may be more realistic if you have a large property and are unable to fence the whole thing and still want to "free range" your chickens.

https://www.premier1supplies.com/c/...KufCFyrxoHCBgauRpNTctJWFIzBvI3S4aAivFEALw_wcB

 

[llombardo]

2 things here...

I have an electric fence around the run and I brought each dog out, pretty much all of them got zapped and did not attempt again.

Coyotes are really dangerous right now. Locally 2-3 coyotes took on 2 pit bulls that were defending a smaller dog. One of the pit bulls was mauled to death, the other was seriously hurt, the small dog had minor wounds.

I suggest leaving the chickens locked up in the secure run for the next couple months(it is mating season for coyotes and food is scarce) for their own safety. I own 3-GSDs and they are not allowed outside unsupervised at this time because the threat is real. Please keep your dog safe and do not use as a way to chase the coyotes off--they will take her on and they will kill her. You have been lucky all the way around so far. Good Luck!!

 

[PirateGirl]

2 things here...

I have an electric fence around the run and I brought each dog out, pretty much all of them got zapped and did not attempt again.

Coyotes are really dangerous right now. Locally 2-3 coyotes took on 2 pit bulls that were defending a smaller dog. One of the pit bulls was mauled to death, the other was seriously hurt, the small dog had minor wounds.

I suggest leaving the chickens locked up in the secure run for the next couple months(it is mating season for coyotes and food is scarce) for their own safety. I own 3-GSDs and they are not allowed outside unsupervised at this time because the threat is real. Please keep your dog safe and do not use as a way to chase the coyotes off--they will take her on and they will kill her. You have been lucky all the way around so far. Good Luck!!

This is an excellent point and why I was following my elderly dog around outside last night around midnight in the freezing cold in the dark. I have seen and/or heard our coyotes 4 nights in the past week. They are active and on the move right now. Food is harder to come by for sure. Chicken dinner is likely more tempting than usual.

 

[Rammy]

If I were you, Id also take a gun with me when out with your dog. There have been documented cases of people being attacked, too. I sure would hate to read something happened to you.
One night I got home late, around 10pm, and thought about not locking up the chickens. I thought Id better anyway and when I got to the door into the coop, I saw what I thought was a German Shepard trotting thru my pasture not 10ft away from my coop. It was a coyote! Once I realized what it was , I got unto the coop and closed the doors and watched til it was gone. From then on I have taken a rifle with me if its dark. My thought was I was lucky it didnt come after me. It could easily have jumped the fence and gotten my chickens. Just be careful.

 

[llombardo]

If I were you, Id also take a gun with me when out with your dog. There have been documented cases of people being attacked, too. I sure would hate to read something happened to you.
One night I got home late, around 10pm, and thought about not locking up the chickens. I thought Id better anyway and when I got to the door into the coop, I saw what I thought was a German Shepard trotting thru my pasture not 10ft away from my coop. It was a coyote! Once I realized what it was , I got unto the coop and closed the doors and watched til it was gone. From then on I have taken a rifle with me if its dark. My thought was I was lucky it didnt come after me. It could easily have jumped the fence and gotten my chickens. Just be careful.

Check local laws before shooting. Some areas don't allow it. Coyotes are pretty protected here. If they kill sonething, they don't go looking for them to kill them. They are more likely to catch, tag and release do they can track them. If you call they tell you how to live with them and what to do if you encounter one. We have the living with them down pat. It's a lot of awareness. One time I was driving with my GSD and we were on our block when one crossed the road--he looked at it, then looked at me like what the hell was that..lol

Here is a picture of mine as the coyotes were coming closer. I could hear them and so could the dogs. I got them all in right after the picture

The coyotes here are not small

 

[Rammy]

I understand about the laws. But if somethings coming at me to eat me, its going down. And nope, coyotes are not small.