Coyotes

[Nicole01]

I agree my Aussie is no match for the coyote, but she'd try her best to rip it into pieces. She follows the scent trail it leads. Unfortunately it leads off our property. I'll have to talk with the neighbors about going onto their land if needed. I hate even walking on their land with my dogs without permission.

Thank you all for your support. We added extra roosts to the run to make it more spacious for our 8 hens that are in there. Our run is only 22x5x5. I wish it was bigger, but there is no way I'm taking down my beautiful bush next to it.

 

[Moochie]

Hey can anyone recommend a good LGD for deterring coyotes? We can't keep anything too big either, but big enough to keep coyotes away. The ones we have here are small but they've taken a liking to my birds, which are fenced in and in a coop/run, but the yotes killed a neighbor's cat near our mailbox where the yotes have been watching my young little chickens. They are fenced in with 2 more layers of chicken wire and hardware cloth, but the coyotes did get a young turkey (she probably flew out, we were gone for a day and we're guessing she was looking for the nice humans that give her mealworms, as in my mom and I). I don't mean to hi-jack your thread Nicole but I too am facing a very similar problem.
Half of the pen is not covered but today we are going to move all the young birds into the backyard with slightly older chickens until we can get the front yard pen turkey proofed. They won't have as much room because the older birds are getting bigger and it will probably be crowded. I can't have the other 2 turkeys getting out though so we're gonna turkey proof it and clip wings.
Coyotes do have a purpose but not around here so they need to go!

 

[Nicole01]

Hey can anyone recommend a good LGD for deterring coyotes? We can't keep anything too big either, but big enough to keep coyotes away. The ones we have here are small but they've taken a liking to my birds, which are fenced in and in a coop/run, but the yotes killed a neighbor's cat near our mailbox where the yotes have been watching my young little chickens. They are fenced in with 2 more layers of chicken wire and hardware cloth, but the coyotes did get a young turkey (she probably flew out, we were gone for a day and we're guessing she was looking for the nice humans that give her mealworms, as in my mom and I). I don't mean to hi-jack your thread Nicole but I too am facing a very similar problem.
Half of the pen is not covered but today we are going to move all the young birds into the backyard with slightly older chickens until we can get the front yard pen turkey proofed. They won't have as much room because the older birds are getting bigger and it will probably be crowded. I can't have the other 2 turkeys getting out though so we're gonna turkey proof it and clip wings.
Coyotes do have a purpose but not around here so they need to go!

Your not hi-jacking. I hope someone can help.

 

[centrarchid]

Nicole1,

Your coyote problem is not unlike what I would have if I did not use a combination of confining birds seasonally and a dog. My juvenile birds are free-range in truest way but they are confined by interest in staying near roosts, food and water. Other chickens actually in pens. My dog engages coyotes but does not chase them more than a couple hundred yards beyond where birds free range. My dog seems to know local coyotes (they him as well) and they stay off property very well. The coyotes themselves may actually provide my birds a limited amount of protection from coyotes that my dog would otherwise has to drive off with more effort than those that know him. The local coyotes may also help suppress red fox numbers. Red fox for me does not respect my dog as much and is more inclined to attempt catching birds. Fox requires more of my dogs effort than coyotes. Removing local coyotes would simply set stage for more continous turnover in local coyotes that could be more apt to go after birds. Having dog pursue coyotes any distance is not to your advantage. Sometimes there is more than one or even a single coyote may slip back to where chickens are and get one while dog is tracking elsewhere. Keep dog tighter. For a single coyote, and Aussie is likely more than a match for but coyotes do not always operate alone, especially during winter months as they are carving out or reinforcing territories. The two dogs or much larger dog needed or keep birds penned up then. Do not be boneheaded in approach, be flexible with open minded.

 

[chickortreat]

As far as an LGD (Loaded-Gun-Dissuader), I would recommend a .22 magnum. Not very loud, no recoil, and ammo is fairly cheap, compared to centerfire ammo.

 

[flewdacoop]

 

[Nicole01]

My husband will do the shooting. He is not comfortable with me shooting a gun, which I understand. I have a severe neck injury and any jolt can make my neck injury worse. We have a .22.

We are taking our xl dog kennel and building our own trap since the fox trap we bought was too small and took that back to the store. We are not paying 160-200 for a trap to use on one animal. So far this coyote is solitary. I bet we would of seen the others by now of it wasn't.

I do worry about rabies. Not for our dogs, but for us and my children. Our pets are updated on their shots, us humans do not have a rabies vaccine. I do not want anymore dead chickens or our beloved cats. My neighbors dogs are great targets too since some are very small.

I'd much rather deal with a fox then a coyote anytime. Coyotes do much more damage in my opinion. I understand they keep the mice and small rodents down, but so do our cats. Both my husband and I are putting great thought into this. We make a great team.

I do know the coyote will eat the fox too. I've seen them around a few years ago along with a black bear and a grey wolf.

I can not wait until our fence gets put in. Then we can keep our dogs outside running free within the fenced area. My 2 dogs are great protectors.

 

[flewdacoop]

SHOOT EM

 

[centrarchid]

Nicole1,

You are going to have to take it down a 1000. You lost only a couple birds in a free-tange setting. Even after coyote is dispatched you will occasionally loose some while free-ranging. Your real long-term predators may not be as sexy as a coyote; but the fox, coon and oppossum will be your biggest worries that will alway be consideration. Relax.

 

[RockerHen]

Hey can anyone recommend a good LGD for deterring coyotes? We can't keep anything too big either, but big enough to keep coyotes away. The ones we have here are small but they've taken a liking to my birds, which are fenced in and in a coop/run, but the yotes killed a neighbor's cat near our mailbox where the yotes have been watching my young little chickens. They are fenced in with 2 more layers of chicken wire and hardware cloth, but the coyotes did get a young turkey (she probably flew out, we were gone for a day and we're guessing she was looking for the nice humans that give her mealworms, as in my mom and I). I don't mean to hi-jack your thread Nicole but I too am facing a very similar problem.
Half of the pen is not covered but today we are going to move all the young birds into the backyard with slightly older chickens until we can get the front yard pen turkey proofed. They won't have as much room because the older birds are getting bigger and it will probably be crowded. I can't have the other 2 turkeys getting out though so we're gonna turkey proof it and clip wings.
Coyotes do have a purpose but not around here so they need to go!

I have an anatolian shepherd, and he is a very good deterrent for all sorts of predators. He's gone after quite a few feral dogs and foxes in his time, and even barks at and tries to chase large flying birds like hawks and vultures (and of course the great blue heron at our pond lol) . We used to have a huge raccoon and fox problem before we got him, but now no more. We have coyotes, but I haven't seen them ever try to mess with our chickens or ducks.I haven't ever personally seen our Kota go after coyotes, but I know he wouldn't hesitate to. The people across the street from us used to have a wolf hybrid, and one day he decided to snoop over at our house. He never knew what hit him. Kota had him on his back and squalling within a few seconds. He didn't actually hurt him, but after we returned him to his owners we never saw him try to come back across the street again. I think a wolf hybrid is a bit bigger than a coyote, so I think he could definitely take on one lol. But to us Kota is just a big love bug

he tries to climb into your lap for petting. He's 140 lbs, so he's pretty big, but we love him. I know you said not too big, but when it comes down to it, he doesn't require too much space. He doesn't crave exercise like our lab, and often when we let him out he just flops down in the yard to keep watch. We even had him in our house for a while after he had a shoulder surgery. He just laid beside the couch and never knocked stuff over or chewed on anything. So, if you ever consider a bigger dog, I would definitely recommend an anatolian. The breed does require firm training for backyard situations, as they are headstrong and independent, but once trained make awesome guardians. Just my recommendation

. I may be a little biased since I love my boy so much