I am just sooo mad- at myself. All of the sudden, after 3 years of no problems, the coyotes have started taking my hens- gone from 50 to 15 in less than 2 weeks. What really makes me mad at myself is, I put a radio out by the barn on a talk show station a week ago, and since then, no coyotes. But last night, I forgot to check it to be sure it was on,(it wasnt) and BAM, they hit again- They got 4 hens. I am just so depressed and saddened by this. I have 4 1/2 foot 3 rail fencing with no-climb all the way around the inside of it, but the coyotes are slinking in through the tiny hole at the bottom the hens use to access the free range areas. I know thats the way they are going because I kept finding piles of feathers right around that opening only. So today I ordered electric poultry fencing and will be installing it very soon- I just hope and pray I still have chickens by that time.
Sorry to hear of your loss. Do you have a bright light near the coop opening. If you can add one it might help. Coyotes do not like the bright lights. We keep the pen area well lit. We also have 2 llamas but even they would not be any match for a pack.
Slightly off topic but about shooting coyotes. Our farm borders the Charles River in MA (Love that dirty water...) so we have packs of coyotes that run the river banks and we hear them frequently and have caught pics of them with my DH's deer camera. We were planning on eliminating the threat, so to speak, and were told that if a coyote has not bothered your live stock leave them be. If you take the ones not bothering you out of the area, new ones will move in that may not be so neighborly. Obviously this coyote has found an easy meal and I would take those measures.
