HELP!!!! COYOTE EMERGENCY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chickens4Life101]

Over the past 2 weeks we have lost 3 hens to a coyote. We have never seen the attacks. This morning we saw a coyote and went out to count the chickens, and we saw white feathers. Then we found out that we lost another girl. Our white leghorn, Buttercup. Recently, our white silkie bantam, Marshmallow, and our ameraucana, Maracas, had gone missing, and I posted their disappearances and I found out that it was due to a coyote. BUT WHAT DO WE DO SO THIS DOESN'T KEEP HAPPENING!! It seems like it is only targeting our small ones. We only have 11 chickens now, and 2 of them are very small and I am surprised that they have not been caught yet. Especially our Rhode Island Red, Roseanna. She has a severely injured foot and a broken wing and cannot fly. After everything we have been through with her, we can NOT lose her! What can we do?!?! Our chickens are free range and we have 1 rooster. We are setting out a trap too. This issue needs to be addressed soon because we are getting 5 more silkies in the beginning of April. PLEASE HELP!!

 

[lilmillefleur]

Keep your chickens locked up until the predator can be dealt with. Sorry for your loss.

 

[lilmillefleur]

Keep your chickens locked up until the predator can be dealt with. The coyote will come back until you have no chickens left. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Al Capon]

The coyote has found the buffet line. You have to either make your chickens inaccessible to the coyote or remove the coyote from the equation. You've only got 2 options.

Coyotes can be difficult to catch in traps. They have very keen senses of smell and are intelligent.

Your best bet would be to find someone with trapping experience, some state wildlife agencies have trappers that will target nuisance livestock eaters, but you might have to ask around.

 

[Chickens4Life101]

Keep your chickens locked up until the predator can be dealt with. The coyote will come back until you have no chickens left. Sorry for your loss.

Ok we will definitely try that!

 

[staceyj]

This is a thread for @A_Fowl_Guy

 

[Trish1974]

A secured run for your flock is the only way to ensure their safety. Even if you remove this coyote another one will just take its place.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

I suggest calling your local department of natural resources to see what they recommend. They can give you permission to take the coyote out of season or tell you the law permits it. A .22 will eliminate the coyote and trapping is difficult. Coyotes need to be able to see out of both ends of the trap or they are less likely to go in. A double entrance live trap would come into play there. A single entrance live trap usually has a bait cage that you can place bait in that they can’t get to (live chicken, bloody meat).

 

[Chickens4Life101]

Now our rooster is missing!!!

 

[Chickens4Life101]

I suggest calling your local department of natural resources to see what they recommend. They can give you permission to take the coyote out of season or tell you the law permits it. A .22 will eliminate the coyote and trapping is difficult. Coyotes need to be able to see out of both ends of the trap or they are less likely to go in. A double entrance live trap would come into play there. A single entrance live trap usually has a bait cage that you can place bait in that they can’t get to (live chicken, bloody meat).

Thank you!