I'm pretty sure I'm not cut out for this...

[Cetawin]

I am so sorry, they are a real pain. I will give you one warning...coyotes will go over the top. They have been seen in pairs/groups with one or two on top of chain link bouncing up and down to cave it in while the other(s) paced the perimeter.

I know you do not like the idea of killing it but you need to. Coyotes are one of those nuisance anredators and not just to your chickens. Take a deep breath, say a prayer and shoot!

Good luck.

 

[Cass]

How about a gun and some buckshot? You don't have to be a wonderful aim with buckshot. As wiley as coyotes are, they don't stick around when they are being shot at. Kinda like theives, they'll move on to a less guarded flock after a few pellets in their flesh, cuz a wounded coyote is a dead coyote when it is found by other predators. And they are smart enough to know that and try to avoid getting hurt.

 

[tennesseeckn]

Thanks, guys.

This is the kind of "buck up and do the job" kind of talk I need.

That's good to know about them going over the top. When I work on the bigger run this weekend I'll cover the top, too.

To make matters worse, the girls are pacing up and down the length of their run, dragging their beaks up and down, like a prisoner would do with a tin cup. They want out to free range! I haven't even been back in the big coop to see how mad THEY are.

I discovered that I am a rotten shot this morning. I'm afraid I would have killed all of my chickens and taken out half of the coop and landscaping if I'd been using a shotgun.

Stupid Coyote...

 

[theFox]

Practice your shooting until it becomes second nature to place that bead, squeeze the trigger, and nail the target.

You can do it.

 

[EweSheep]

With all that noise from target practice, they may not come back for awhile but never let your guard down!

 

[GarlicEater]

This is the essential difference between life now and 100+ years ago that's catching us all by surprise.

Guns used to be sold mail-order. Kids could send off to an ad in a comic book or a boy's magazine and get the .22 of their choice. Scouting taught marksmanship, county fairs had shooting galleries complete with little metal ducks, guns were as ubiquitous as hammers and screwdrivers are now. Yes, there was some gun violence. That's keyed more to lack of an intact social fabric, upbringing, etc than the prevalence of guns. Notice today we have matches, lighters, and vehicles full of gasoline all over the place but we don't blame those for the horrible crime of arson. Guns were tools. Annie Oakley was one of our first super-celebrities. The good guys in the movies and the serials were crack shots, and Alvin York got the Medal of Honor for doing just what he did at home. The turkeys just said "Achtung" instead of "gobble, gobble".

Even myself, when I moved here I expected to shoot my Marlin bolt-action more at the range than anywhere else, maybe occasionally go plinking with friends. But it turned out to be a very useful tool. Even if I were the "trap it and take it far away" type, that's a gallon of gas these days, that makes a .22 round worth $4 plus saves a lot of time and hassle, and the time taking the car out of service in case the land owner needs it.

So take a training course, consider some sort of a "farm gun" for its usefulness as a tool, or a stout pellet gun at the very least.

 

[LaneHill]

We have major problems with *insert assorted nasty insults here* coyote, so I'm going to tell you what I know in an attempt to maybe help a bit

If there is one coyote, be aware that there will be more not far behind... & skulking around. They stick to cover for as long as possible & circle in around whatever they are after
A coyote will lay down low to the ground & wait until it's safe to try again. ( that's probably why your girls are still nervous, it's not far away)
To be honest, in the dark, you could walk right past one & not even see it
They will kill anything they can get their mangy mouths on

No, I don't enjoy shooting anything, but when I have to, I will

So, when the time comes, relax, set your sites, relax again, take a slow deep breath, relax some more, start to let it out & slowly pull the trigger.

You can do it!
Good Luck

 

[tennesseeckn]

I can't believe I am dealing with coyotes. In my backyard! Inside city limits!

I used to be a pretty good shot. I've got steady hands and 20/15 vision, but I've never had to shoot anything while dealing with adrenaline and fear and anger...

Because I am inside the city, I can't use a normal gun. I used my kids' BB guns this morning because I felt safe letting my daughter fetch them for me. Now I have my husband's air rifle by the back door. It's almost as good as a .22. I was afraid to practice with it today because it sounds like a rifle and I'm not 100 percent sure the police wouldn't tell me I can't use it if my neighbors complain.

He (or they) didn't come back at dusk like I expected. I'm not sure they'll come back at night since the girls are up in the coop. I wouldn't be surprised if it comes back in the morning when the girls come back out.

I'm all squeamish at the prospect of having to shoot it, but I really, really want it to come back so I can get it over with.

 

[ShortCircuitRanch2332]

AGREED they are masters of disguise and will try and try again to get what they really want like i said in a few posts before on coyotes they TORE down my run CHEWED the hen door off my coop and went in and took my entire flock as soon as a coyote come near a Hen house its like instinct kicks in IT KNOWS it is supposed to get in there and eat just like they have done for hundreds of years, I dont know if you know or not no one here has stated it so I will when you shoot it shoot here

rite inside the highlighted area you will hit the heart or lungs and it will go down ALWAYS aim for the vitals

you will get a kill 99% of the time

 

[tennesseeckn]

Nothing showed up last night or this morning. Grrr.