I think we have a coyote problem!!

[shelleyd2008]

Yeah, it's a 20 gauge shotgun. He used it the other day (makes a good hawk deterrent) and it about knocked him on his butt.
I'm just assuming it was coyotes, since the pup is gone too. The pup was pretty young, probably less than 3 months, so I doubt it would have just ran off.

Dad has seen coons down b y our pond lately, another place that is overgrown with weeds.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

I wish you luck. We have a few around here but they haven't been a problem to date, they are very wary of people. Usually when I see them and get a gun they are gone.

Steve

 

[crtrlovr]

I've lost two guineas in the last week to what I am thinking is either a dog or coyote. I've seen and heard coyotes in the past, but not since last year (a HUGE pack went through my next door neighbor's yard). I lost a beautiful solid white w/ white pearls on her feathers, and a grey pearl/white pied. The white one was snatched around 11:00 A.M. while I was cutting the front yard. They were freeranging outside the run (Permanet web fence but not yet electrified -- gotta finish reading those instructions

and it wasn't afraid of the sound of the lawn mower so close. Makes me sick....

 

[ChickenCat]

We have yotes in our area. We can hear them howling and have even had them within 35 feet of the backyard fence. I have 4 catahoula dogs in the yard. The chicken house and pen is outside the One night a yote woke me, it was howling the "prey found" call to the others. the prey being a feral cat in the pasture. My dogs were lined up against the fence, yote was maybe 35 feet away and totally ignoring my dogs. the yote knew my dogs were fenced and couldn't get to him. It ignored my yells. I got a 410 shotgun and light. As soon as I turned on the light, the yote shut up and left. A yote will not look at the light, knowing it's eyes will reflect. You have to use a red lense cover over your light, they can't see that. A pack of coyotes will kill the GSD or even the pitbull. A couple of coyotes won't, they are basically "chicken". Keep the chickens penned up tight in a secure house. Put an electric fence around that, several strands high. Coyotes don't like electricity.

 

[LesGan]

Coyotes here as well. Would not trust any of my dogs to contend with them...a pack will surround your dog and they don't have a chance. I purchased an inexpensive electric fence charger from Tractor Supply that might work for you. My application is on the outside of chainlink 6' fence but lots of lightweight plastic fencing now available....quick to install and can use it to surround any structure. Good luck, Leslie

 

[tstoikes]

I have coyotes as well. Some feral dogs and cats as well. I loose my free range birds to coyotes from time to time. Your best bet is a coop or cage of some type. Make sure that it is sturdy and tight. I had a coon climb the wall of my first coop and tear a corner out of the roof - lost over half my flock in one night. The fool came back the second night.
Another thing that seems to help a little is hanging scratched up CD's from tree branches. when they move in the wind they flash. I loose very few to hawks that way and since I put them up the coyotes don't come in the yard.
Also get that grass cut down as soon as you can. Coyotes will lay there for hours until a bird comes close. I think a fox will also. Feral cats are really tough on chicks but they rarely go after adults.
My biggest problem here are snakes. I know they keep the mice down BUT they like eggs and chicks better. I've had them crawl under broody hens. As well as kill hens defending their chicks or smaller birds (silkies and banties) Even though my granddad is turning over in his grave I shoot them on sight now. A good 22 works for a close in varmit gun. And I keep a machete in my chicken coop..... but if you don't swing hard enough all you do is annoy the snake!
Oh and a possum will make a meal of a chicken. Always check your coop before you close it up for the night.
Good luck

 

[nnbreeder]

Yep if the Pit comes up against more then one Coyote he is pretty much history. I've seen single Coyotes put up a good fight against as many as ten Black and Tans when we would run them with the dogs.

The best thing you can do is to build good defenses against them with good wire or electric fencing. One thing that is constant is that unless it is dead of winter and they are having trouble finding food they are lazy, won't try hard to get a meal.

 

[redhen]

OOh NO! The poor baby pup!

I'm sorry Shelley!

 

[Bridget399]

I can hear my coyotes here, too. If you didn't hear them, it may not be a big pack or even one alone. I burried my fence and stapled burried hardware cloth to my coop, to prevent anything from getting in.
I hear those electrified fences work well...
Good Luck! I really hope you don't lose any more.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

I don't know why I didn't suggest it on this thread before, but you should advertise your coyote problem to your local hunters and trappers. I know around here, you'll see periodic postings on Craigslist some hunter/trapper looking for places to hunt and trap nuisance animals like coyotes and feral hog.

This way you don't have to shoot the animals yourself, hunting is probably slightly more effective on coyotes than trapping. Just do a google search of trappers in your area, many time there is a trapper forum or association. Or you can simply type up a simple post on Craigslist, saying you are looking for experienced hunter/trappers. Sometimes trapping is illegal in areas, so you may not be able to get a trapper, but you should be able to get some help in that area be it hunting or trapping.

-Kim