Coyotes?

[AZchickymomma]

Over the past few weeks, we have lost 4 hens and a rooster. The first one we thought just died - there wasn't hardly a mark on her, but then a week later, we found one of the hens half eaten and the rooster next to her - but he was barely scratched as well. This morning, my husband found one of our favorite Leghorns along with another hen absolutely slaughtered!

Our 1 acre property is enclosed by an 8-foot concrete-block wall. A neighbor confirmed that there can be coyotes in the area and they can certainly jump and 8-foot wall. We are now locking them in the coop at night but are wondering what we can do to thwart the coyote. My husband is thinking about camping in the backyard in his truck with the shotgun - haha!

I'll be the first to admit that the rooster and I did not get along at ALL - but I would have never wished that on him... RIP Big Red and the girls

 

[txnative]

There are not a lot of animals I would gladly shoot to remove from the area, but coyotes are one of them. I witnessed a macho contest between a big male coyote and my male Lab a year ago, and now have the shotgun ready to go if I see the coyote again. Having said that, I worry about the eventuality of having to kill one of my chickens because it has been injured too badly to save!

 

[chickbythebay]

I would be surprised if a coyote could jump an 8 foot wall! Raccoons can climb them though.

 

[scrambled freud]

A coyote can jump and 8 foot wall? Well, if that is true, I am surprised but I would believe it. I think I would run an electrical wire on the top of the wall because there is no way I am going to be out-foxed by a coyote and I refuse to be beaten. I also am not above sitting out there with a shotgun or rifle. I would be hopping mad. I know the day will come when I lose a chicken, but it hasn't happened yet and I pity the animal who crosses me. I'm a protective mother hen. I am sorry for the losses you have had.

 

[Northie]

We have lots of coyotes here and jumping an 8foot fence really sounds like a stretch to me but, it looks like dogs can do it, sooooooooo why not. I bet there's an easier way in though. Check for spots where they can use something to scramble up on and get over, look for claw marks. Do you have vines climbing the wall, hills or buildings near it? Also check your gates and the perimeter for somewhere they have been digging. Really check for signs that some thing has been scrambling under or over your gates they'll be the most likely spot for a coyote to try.

As for getting the problem coyote see what you can do in your area and go from there. They're very active at night and early morning around here.
Hope that help, good luck

 

[Northie]

Sorry for the multiple posts, my computer went a bit nuts there

 

[Northie]

.

 

[Northie]

.

 

[4 the Birds]

8 ft high concrete wall enclosing your property? I would love to see a picture of this. It would have to have vines or something for a 4 legged predator to scale. Deer can jump great heights but I doubt they would even attempt a solid wall that height.

 

[zazouse]

Why would something scale a 8 foot wall for something they can not see, sounds like you got a critter hidding inside your compound.. also do you have dogs bause they kill like this also?