I'm just not having any luck! Coyote Attack. Neighbors chickens too.

[Barbedwirecat]

I came home today about 3:00 to find 1 dead rooster and 3 dead hens (one of which was not mine). When I got out of my car I spied a coyote running away through field. I have one hen not accounted for, I couldn't find the body. I have one hen INSIDE the house under a light but she is gasping and I think she's not going to make it. Bloods coming from her mouth but no punctures I can see.

Thank god the other hens were in the coop snuggled against the wall, and my big roo Ron was hiding his girls under a pine tree. His poor brother was the unlucky one (and he had survived a horrible raccoon attack that split open is back earlier this year!) Like an idiot I thought they would be fine outside of the pen. This is the first time I have really let them out and run for errands. Now I know better. The neighbor says 4 more of his are missing.

Our other neighbors cat went missing 2 weeks ago. I've let all of the other neighbors know (except for one, they are not very friendly) particularly the one that just moved in with kids and a small dog.

Can animal control do anything? The two neighbors that have lost animals say they are going to try and shoot him, I'm all for that---I just can't do it myself because I'll miss.

*tearing my hair out*

I just started my pen extension yesterday, not soon enough!!

 

[kari_dawn]

animal control may or may not be able to help you. We are generally not equipped with wildlife supplies, but my municipality will at least try. We have trapped bobcats and caught coyotes in the past...since coyotes are on the top five rabies list, animal control may be worth a call, though dispatching the animal yourself may be quicker...municipalities can move very slow.

 

[Barbedwirecat]

Had to put the other hen down. She was my fav too. Her lung was punctured, there wasn't anything I could do.

I haven't seen the coyote again, but our chickens are on lockdown.

 

[chickened]

He will return as long as a meal is there. I have dealt with them plenty and I always end up shooting them or keep my birds penned up and the latter I will not do forever.

 

[Mommy 2 Wee Ones]

I am so very sorry for your loss.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Drastic times call for drastic measures.
TSC has a huge live trap that will easily hold a coyote.
An outbuilding that you can bait with a means of closing the door when it goes inside and then dispatch the trapped animal.
Other than that leg trap or gun are the only options.

I don't use poison. Lots of unintended results.

 

[artsy1]

SORRY

 

[Barbedwirecat]

Once I have the extra cash to spend I'll invest in a live trap unless the neighbors get him first. After trapped I'll be calling one of them to dispatch him. Even the boyfriend says he's going to shoot him, and I didn't think he cared that much about my chickens--and he doesn't harm living things (kinda like me).

I'm still working on my expansion pen, he'd better stay away today or he'll be in for a nasty surprise. Keeping bear mace w/ me.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

unless rabid - it won't attack you.
It's an opportunist looking for a meal or one to feed its family.
Coyotes spread across the country when we eradicated to alpha predator, the red and grey wolves.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local&id=6128792