How far do we let the coyotes go?

[bawkbawkbawk]

I have lost two hens in the last month to coyotes. In the two decades we've lived on our property, the only time a coyote got in was when we had a fence break we hadn't know about it and which we repaired immediately. Now the coyotes are jumping OVER our walls and coming deep into our property.

Some neighbors are rightfully fearful for their pets but many people I talk to just shrug and say, well, it's the drought. Our HOA says and does nothing.

I just posted a little "eulogy" for my lost hens here: https://polloplayer.wordpress.com/2016/02/27/coyote-ugly/ and quoted a paper I found that was published in 2004 that talks about the progression of coyote aggression. Our neighborhood is at level four of seven steps listed. The boldness of the coyotes has increased so dramatically here.

Has anyone else experienced an increase in aggressiveness from coyotes?

Has anyone had any luck in doing anything about it?

 

[enola]

You will have to build Fort Knox to protect your flock. Coyotes can jump, climb and dig with unbelievable ability.

You have answered your own question when you said you repaired the fence to keep them out of the hen yard.

HOAs are not responsible for keeping your hens safe, you are. I suggest you cover your run with welded wire. Put a "skirt of wire" around the bottom of the entire run. I am assuming the fencing around your run is welded wire; if it is not, it should be.

Do not use "chicken wire" coyotes can chew through it.....

Good luck!

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Hi @enola yes, we have a covered run and a Ft. Knoxed coop. Trenched, hardware cloth, etc. etc. And even though it is palatial compared to the way, say, a production hen would live, my girls live to free range. And, of course, now die doing so, so that's the end to that. Just very sad that they can't enjoy a little walkabout in the bushes. Seems unfair. I know, I know, life is unfair.

And while I understand the HOA doesn't have to be concerned with my chickens, we have very young, very small children who walk their puppies in our neighborhood, and I am haunted by fear for their safety. People keep saying that coyotes don't attack people, but I've seen headlines to the contrary.

 

[enola]

I couldn't let my hens roam free either. Neighbor dogs, ferel cats, coyotes, foxes, possum and I am sure I forgot a few.......

I feel your pain......

 

[Adalida]

I know California has strict gun laws, but are you/your neighbors not allowed to protect yourself/your animals from coyotes by killing them? Or even get a good pellet gun and at least hurt them? We had one coyote come into our yard that I know of, and let's just say he will never go into anybody's yard ever again.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I have lost two hens in the last month to coyotes. In the two decades we've lived on our property, the only time a coyote got in was when we had a fence break we hadn't know about it and which we repaired immediately. Now the coyotes are jumping OVER our walls and coming deep into our property.

Some neighbors are rightfully fearful for their pets but many people I talk to just shrug and say, well, it's the drought. Our HOA says and does nothing.

I just posted a little "eulogy" for my lost hens here: https://polloplayer.wordpress.com/2016/02/27/coyote-ugly/ and quoted a paper I found that was published in 2004 that talks about the progression of coyote aggression. Our neighborhood is at level four of seven steps listed. The boldness of the coyotes has increased so dramatically here.

Has anyone else experienced an increase in aggressiveness from coyotes?

Has anyone had any luck in doing anything about it?

I am glad that others are recognizing the increased boldness of predators like coyotes, hawks and owls, or bobcats. Wild animals are supposed to be frightened of humans and the things we keep around us like pets and poultry, not the other way around.

 

[enola]

What a lot of people refuse to realize is that animals are not encroaching on us...... We are encroaching on them. As we destroy their hunting grounds, they have to learn to live with us. Unfortunately, that means that coyotes have learned that small outside pets, all types of poultry and trash cans all become a source of nutrition.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

@Adalida our HOA prohibits the use of firearms except in self-defense, not that I would have a clue how to use one anyway and wow you must be a good shot because I can't imagine a more elusive target than a coyote.

@enola I understand and do respect your point. But my property line, i.e., my "encroachment" hasn't changed in 20+ years; the coyotes have now breached it in a significant and quality-of-life-changing way. We are now shrinking our use of our 3-acre property to a tiny enclosed courtyard for us and all our animals. Is it wise that in the face of aggression we put ourselves in cages?

 

[enola]

I was not suggesting that you live in a cage at all. Have you thought the coyotes are moving in on your area because they are being pushed out of another area?? I hate coyotes just as badly as you do. I guess what I was trying to say was we are all going to have to learn to live with them, whether we want to or not.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

@enola no they are not being pushed out from anywhere. Very stringent anti-development sentiments in our community. It is the drought. We are absolutely parched. The highly hyped El Nino has not materialized, we are well under our average rainfall again this year and the prevailing belief is that the coyotes (and bobcats) are just more desperate than usual for food and water.