heart broken... coyote... my final say

[Frosty]

I'm not sure it was a coyote... I think coyotes are like foxes where they grab their prey and run with it. What you are describing sounds more like a raccoon attack IMO...

 

[callducklover20]

My friend who lives on 20 acres has had a problem since winter with 2 coyotes that are working together. We found feathers of several birds-silkies and Muscoveys, but didnt see who was doing it til one morning her beloved male muscovey left his pen to go to the small creek for his morning swim with his last remaning brother and waiting in ambush was those 2 coyotes, they got poor ducky but his brother made it back to the pen since her husband ran out with his gun and they took off. Since then she got more ducks and chickens but no matter how hard she tries to make sure all the pens are secure they manage to break in and nab birds. Her poor old Aussie tried but he was just too old-poor old Ricki also passed away this summer so now she has a great lab mix puppy that is trying to fill his shoes, he stays in at night since he wouldnt be any match for a coyote at his age. The free ranging attracked those hungry coyotes when we had a bad winter here and they wont leave-they are very smart and avoid the coyote calls her friend has done and all other means of getting rid of them. SHe is doing her best to keep everyone put up but since they killed her new scovey and her babies right in the pen-mind you she also has a very large 1/2Zebra 1/2 horse and mini donkeys and goats all right next to them-that Zorse protects everyone else but those coyotes are smart enough to go for the easy food. Im so sorry for all of you-I know everyone loves their birds as much as I do

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Regardless of what species the predator was, it knows where to find a free meal. Keep the flock penned for a week or so until the hungry predator moves elsewhere.

 

[quinkerton]

I vote on dogs also, they mark ther permimiter of the chicken run and we have never had a problem with coyotes. However we have had problems with foxes, they dont' care about dogs! And just to inform another post, I have two border collies that are wonderful with my chickens.

 

[belknap89]

Update on raccoon aftermath: at the time of this posting still no sign of the mother and chicks, however the adult red sex link was found coming out of hiding. I believe it was her horrendous carrying on that caused me to run last night. Anyway, if any of the missing show up I'll tell you.

 

[jjthink]

What SS said. Unfortunately there will soon be no birds left now that the pred knows where to find an easy meal. The only way to avoid this is to at least temporarily keep the birds in a safe place. I have a fenced run and then I give free range time when I can be around to watch pretty closely. I wish I could free range all of the time but...
JJ

 

[mmaddie's mom]

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I'm so glad that your hen showed up... I still hope mom and babies show up!

 

[mmaddie's mom]

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I'm thinking more clearly this morning and had already decided to do this ^^^... so your note just confirms that it is the right thing to do for now... no Roo to defend or warn them at at all. I feel sure that my hens and babies were given the time to get to safety while Miracle and Yellow Roo were facing up to the predator. No crowing this morning

... so I hope the one little guy I kept, hoping he was a roo, really is a roo.

When I said what remained of Yellow Roo, I meant piles of feathers going across the yard (as if he was fighting as he was being carried away)... Miracle left nothing, so I feel that he was grabbed quick and was gone in an instant... he liked taking the girls out to the edge of the bean field for the cooler shade (during that real hot spell) and bugs... perfect cover for a predator to walk right up and grab. Every year at this time (when the corn or beans get high enough to provide this great cover) I loose a few, but never befor this many, this quickly... and this time it was 4 of my very favorites.

Now on to a plan for a solution...

*We had already been talking about a new coop and bigger pen for next spring, so this will be good if we need to keep them in for a week or so at times like this... more comfortable and more room, but protected... that is in the works.

*But for right NOW... someone mentioned a coyote call... tell me about this? Can someone who has never done this before master this skill and fool a coyote? I'm pretty good with the rifle but would it take 2 people to do this... one to call and one to shoot? Where do I get such a thing... sporting goods store? Also, tips on using it? All my birds have been taken in the mid to late afternoon... so this is the time to try it, right?

* a friend has said anti-freeze... I could keep the cat penned up when I put this out, but I'm not sure about this method? Opinions?

* human pee around the perimeter of the yard?... this might take my husband a while to get around an acre!

We do have a dog, a German Shepherd, but she is 10+ years and pretty much an old lady's house dog (that's probably good because I'm an old lady) and I would never put her at risk in this type of situation. I love my birds, but she is my heart!

Thanks for your input and your kind words. I will consider any solution to this problem so any input is welcomed.

diana

 

[belknap89]

update:still no sign of mom but unfortunately one chick carcass found in coop. Funny how those flies give them away, huh? Still one bantam mom and 2 chicks at large.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

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Still hoping and praying .