Coyotes!!! Need advice, please.

[patandchickens]

Mini donkeys are not generally considered good as guardians, as they tend to just get et by coyotes themselves.

One thing to remember is that the reason that donkeys work vs coyotes is their instinctual desire to stomp dogs to death. You WANT them going after coyotes, you do NOT want them doing the same to your own dogs or neighbors'. This can sometimes be a problem, and is something to consider carefully before (and during) shopping for a guardian donkey.

Good luck,

Pat

 

[gumpsgirl]

That is a good point Pat!

Thank you!

 

[gumpsgirl]

Quote:
You could very well be right about the coyotes not being relocated here by the county or government. People do tend to get stories wrong and they seem to circulate enough that eventually people start believing them. I guess the fish and game warden would be the right one to answer this question.

At any rate, they need to be stopped. I'm tired of not feeling like my kids or animals are safe here on my own property.

 

[vfem]

Quote:
Yep, we haven't had problems with ants or ticks since we got the chickens! I don't have to worry so much when the daughter is out in the summer.

I do hear coyotes here too. Didn't even know they had gotten so largely populated here. Some have already gotten my mom's cats... so she stopped letting them out at night. Now she only has 2 or her 4 cats left.

We've seen them on the side of the road between here and Johnston county... and we're in a tri-county area. Its gotten BAD! Yes, do go complain to your county officals about whats going on. They won't know unless people speak up!

 

[gumpsgirl]

Quote:
Frontline doesn't help here. Been there tried it and it doesn't help.

As for the free range chickens, I guess they can't cover all 8 acres! lol! They do a good job on the two acres they are allowed to free range on, but the other 6 acres are terrible. We were going to get some guineas this spring to help with the problem, but with the coyote problem we are having, it might not be a good idea.

 

[corancher]

We got llamas to help control livestock loses from coyotes. Coyotes are very smart and adapt. They quickly learned to change their access to stay away from the llamas. The llamas don't have access to the poultry area and an area to the front of our property thus that is where the coyotes started to lay in wait for the birds or cats.

We now have a Great Pyrenees that can get into those areas and so far so good. I know that the llamas and the dogs can't be everywhere all the time so as long as the birds free range and the cats are out and about I know that there is still a chance that I will lose some to coyote.

I can see where you would be concerned about the children, however I have not heard of cases where coyotes have gone after adults or children. I am always more concerned about the coy-dogs as they are more dangerous because they have lost the fear of humans Unlike a coyotes that will grab one bird and run the coy-dogs will kill for the fun of it.

I have a neighbor who uses donkeys to protect their livestock and they seem to do a good job also.

It seems that some kind of guardian animal would be useful in your case but understand that they can't be everywhere all the time.

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

I have to admit, I sat and reread your response about Frontline not working like 4 times. I was actually speechless! (doesnt happen often )

We had such a magical and SUDDEN result from the stuff that I was amazed. And we were told it might not work well, due to the age of the house. (an established population is tougher to quell!) But it really worked, and I was religious about its application for a long long time, until money issues made me spread it out a bit, and I discovered it would still work that way for us.

I have used it for close to 8 years now, (sporadically the last 4-5) and learned a few facts.

The product spreads over the body using natural skin oils as a conductor. So, do NOT bathe a dog before you use it. or all the oils are washed away and the product cant move around.

In a year round climate like yours you would have to use the product religiously for the whole year. if you skipped even one month, you would be harshly set back. Yeah, I can see how that would be a chore. But I think if the ticks are that bad, you may have a problem with any dog, heelers have a thick coat too.

Well, I really am stumped, you are the first person to tell me that stuff wasnt wonderful. Wow, Im almost speechless again! lol

Well good luck whatever happens.....!

 

[HarlansHollowFarms]

Hi,
I think the donkey idea is a good one, just watch your dogs when you get one....He needes to learn which critters belong and which to stomp!
I don't know how it is there, but here, we have a yearly coyote hunt with prizes and all. During the rest of the year there is a bounty on them. Some hunters, maybe even you and your neighbours, can get a hunt going on the weekends.
I realise this will not solve the entire problem, as coyotes move around alot, but it may help you identify where dens are, and possibly eradicate litters of pups. Just scouring your propery for signs will help you become more knowlegdable of their behavior around your house.
Also call your wildlife management, they may be able to help also. Coyotes are very adaptable, they will learn how to get around your donkey, keep your gun handy, a dead coyote won't bother you again!

 

[gumpsgirl]

Quote:
I know! It is crazy, but it's true!

As far as the long hair goes, I realize that any dog will have an issue. The long haired ones just seem to be a bigger tick magnet. The ticks like to hitch a ride on their long hair and bring them back into the yard and house. That's my issue with the long haired dogs. I think the Heeler is going to be as long haired as I want to get! Just speaking from past experience.

 

[Swamp Roo]

I really hesitate to even mention this because I don't/won't do it personally. Check and see if game and fish will poison them. If you are in an area where guns are a no no, that may be the only option for effective population control and frankly population control is what you need. While a donkey would keep you and yours safer, it makes the coyotes a problem someone else. It just concentrates the animals to hunt harder in a smaller area. If I couldn't shoot them myself, I'd contact a wildlife removal/trapper specialist, not one of the fancy, "we get coons out of you attic" kind, but more of the 2nd job variety. The kind that traps hogs and such. Often those kind of trappers will do it just for the hides or meat. Again I hate poison and won't use it on anything above insects, but it may be your only option. It could take years to hunt/trap enough. I would definitely leave that to the professionals though.

Swamp