Coyotes

[Northwestmichicken]

Hi
This is my first post
Will a radio by the coop keep away predators like coyotes or foxes or should I try something else
Thanks

 

[theoldchick]

Electric fence works well for me.

 

[Northwestmichicken]

Yea I used to do that but this time they are free range. I didn’t know if the sound of a person talking on a radio would keep them away

 

[Northwestmichicken]

So no input on this subject?

 

[StacyT]

It might work in the beginning but most likely they’ll just get used to it.

 

[Mountain Roost]

Everything loves chicken!

Are you trying to protect them during the day? Do they have a coop for night time?

Guinea fowl are good for making noise during the day and opossums and foxes can be deterred in this manner; maybe even a shy bobcat.

Here, at night all birdies go into wire covered coops with no more than a 1" gap all around. If you are a tree sleeper you are lucky to be around for breakfast.

 

[Northwestmichicken]

Yes they do have a coop to go into for the night. They haven’t come out yet but I’m trying to stay ahead of the game. I saw a woman who has a bunch of reflective tape around her area of ducks. Is that something that might help with hawks during the day?

 

[StacyT]

Most of those gadgets you see for keeping predators away either don’t work or after a few weeks predators figure out that the gadgets are fake. Hawks are a real pain to deal with. Best to cover their run if you can. If free ranging there’s a few options like adding guinea, roosters, lgd etc. For coyotes & other 4 legged predators I found my dog worked best.

 

[Mo_fawaazzz]

try muscovies and Toulouse geese for hawk/owl defense.

if you got a lot of land then go for emus. They instinctually attack predatory animal and seemingly do well with herbivorous animals.

 

[fluffycrow]

I would let nature do its thing.

Members above have pointed out that sooner rather than later, the predators are going to realise that sound coming from the radio doesn’t automatically mean people being present.

At the same time, the added noise coming from the radio is likely to confuse your chickens, which should be on the lookout for predators while foraging. Chickens already have a great warning system, which usually comes in the form of a senior rooster and/or the head hen.

When free ranging, losses are almost inevitable. Lots of cover and places to escape from predators such as branches, bushes, hedges, threes and undergrowth, as well as observant birds that can easily fly and run to safe locations are very helpful when free ranging