Coyote

[AV Brahmas]

You done good. We have a pair on the farm and I can't get them to pose for my trail cam to save my life let alone trap one.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I dont go anywhere without a gun but its not the best gun for putting something down so I had to go back to the house an get the 22 riffle an some hollow points so it would be quick an clean.
I normally have tractor type coops inside a fenced yard with a pack of guard Pugs

out there. Tornado took out the fence down one whole side of the property so the chicken tractors have been unguarded.

I am going to have to do some defensive work.

 

[BuffOrpington22]

Quote:
I have to agree with some of the people replies I'd say put it down. Trust and believe me I have two coyotes that come around my house everyday between 6pm and 8pm right before the sun is about to go down and I've lost 12 hens this year I saw two being carried off with my own eyes and there was nothing I could do because I chased one before and finding out I couldn't catch up to it and it took my cochin bantam. It was my pet for four years it was a sad sight to see and now I purchase a gun which is a .22. Hoping I get one of the coyotes. They even took my small toy chihuahua 'Gizmo" its heartbreaking when your trying to prevent something bad from happening even sadder when the same predators keep taking your pets. I love the wildlife but there is only so much I can take so the coyotes have to be put down. I called the fish game and wildlife they never return my call over 5 months now talk about not doing their job or seem not to care. So I'm taking this matter in my own hands. I want my birds to free range but it's not safe for them right now so they are cooped up been two weeks now. I'm purchasing an electric poultry fence for my birds hope it works.

 

[woodmort]

.22 mag is the smallest gun recommended here for coyotes--just know your background since they can carry for 1.5 miles. Funny I was talking to a farmer/neighbor the other night about coyotes. He had a bunch that were getting bolder around his house, shot one , and they haven't been back. They have to be taught respect.

Couple of other things: Eastern coyotes which have hybridized with wolves, are larger and more likely to hunt in packs, at the same time prefer bigger game.

A couple of coyotes make an awful lot of noise when they howl so determining numbers from this is hard--there are usually less than you think. Often it is just two keeping track on one another.

Coyotes are smart animals--on a par with dogs--that can learn not to fear humans and where the good sources of food are. Keep your birds and pets protected and don't leave food sources like garbage, dog food, etc. around to attract them. The absolute worst thing is that there are people that feed them, this makes a man/food association that is dangerous.

I know there are people that are scared to death of these animals and, while there are more of them coyote/human encounters are more frequent, but there is an infinitely better chance to be attacked by your neighbor's dog than a coyote. If you come face to face with one, it is best not to run but shout, wave your arms and throw things. Act like prey and you'll become prey.

A family of coyotes will fiercely protect their territory and drive off others--eliminating them will not get rid of the problem since there are more ready to move in. The theory is that if the family is not interested in your animals that they will keep possible predators out so leave them alone.

A female will have about 3 or 4 pups in the spring. They may or may not drive off these when they reach sexual maturity--eastern coyotes tend to let them hang around--at which point the exiles will be wandering and setting up new territories if they can find the space. Also at this point they are more apt to help themselves to any handy, available prey.

Both the eastern and western varieties are extending their range and can be found every place, including in most urban areas--there are some in NYC--so they are, probably, the most common predator around.

 

[dainerra]

Quote:
be sure to guard the Pugs. Coyotes will happily snack on small dogs. They'd probably prefer an easy Pup-snack to the work of getting a bird out of the tractors. And if they lose their fear of humans, they've been known to grab small dogs right off the porch/deck! I know a family that lost their small dog this way. Dog was on a cable runner, scratching at the front door to get in. Before they could get the screen door open, coyote snatched it off the porch, breaking the dog's neck because it was tied.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

The pugs have always been enough but we have never had a Coyote problem. Right now the Pugs when outside are behind 2 fences an away from the bird yard till I can change things. A larger pack member may be in there future...

 

[mamadukes5]

We have coyotes living in a den a half mile from my house. When I had my German Shepherd, they never came in the yard at all. Since my male GSD died, I've seen them more often, and in my back yard. I put up a fence, they jump over it. They are not at all impressed with the two dogs I have now, both pit mixes, both females (don't know if that's why) and I have been seeing them more and more. They have not gotten to any of my birds, but a friend of mine was outside with her husband and watched two coyotes run into her yard, grab a chicken each, and take off for the woods again. She lost 8 or 9 in one week. My chickens only free range the yard in late morning/early afternoon, with my dogs in the yard with them, and usually I'm out there too. The only time I see the coyotes is early morning or right before dark, so my chickens are locked in the run during those hours.
Neighbors have been telling me lately about foxes snatching birds in the middle of the day, so I'm hoping my dogs will keep them away. And according to the local game warden here, it is illegal to trap and relocate any wild animal, so if I catch them, I have to kill them. Had a problem with raccoons before I got the chickens, after my GSD died and before I got my two dogs, so had to have a talk with him. Also talked to him about my "imaginary" coyotes, which I now have him convinced are real, but he told me not to worry about them because they don't like dogs. He's not the brightest bulb, in my opinion, but he does know the law. I don't want to have to kill anything just because they're hungry, so I keep the place secure enough so nobody can get to my chickens. So far, so good and the only inconvenience is that I have to walk the dogs on leashes at night, cuz I won't let them in the yard loose at night cuz I don't know what's out there.

 

[aprophet]

.22 short out of my pistol works fine on a fairly regular basis my average shot is 10-20 feet away. the parts off the one you caught bladder and butt hl glands ear glands glands in the "elbow" on the back of the leg are a pretty good "bait/lure" to catch the rest of the family unit. 2 parents and 4-6 pups are kina normal with plenty of prey and healthy animals

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
I too have a den about half a mile away but see the pair often on my game cam--generally late at night. Lately, however, there has been a young male--one of last year's pups I imagine--that has showed up at all hours of the day so the patterns can change depending on age and time of year.
I've often had foxes snatch birds in the middle of the day--once or twice when I was outside working less than 200 yds away. These were cases where the fox hid and the birds wandered too close--they had the bird before anyone knew what was going on.
Don't be so hard on the game wardens, most aren't wildlife biologist and only know what they are told. If the animal is a game animal or protected they probably know it but usually nothing about range or life style. The game warden's job is to know and enforce game laws not know the natural history of every animal and plant. It is like expecting policemen to be versed in human psychology--only happens on TV.

 

[peepblessed]

Coyotes come after our chickens in broad daylight here. We shoot on sight!