Just feathers left - can coyotes climb 5" fences?

[elless]

Thanks everyone for you kind words and thoughts on the matter. She was a sweet hen (would sit in your lap) and laid the largest, dark eggs. We've thought about electric as well but worry about the squirrels in our neighborhood that might get zapped and possibly killed. I know some consider them pests too, but we like them. Also, would it kill a domestic cat? We don't want that to happen. Does anyone have thoughts on this? See "Figure 6" on this page, this is what we have considered. http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/raccoons.htm#trapping

Thanks, Lisa

 

[Miltonchix]

The article states that racoons prefer prey in/around water. Shellfish/ crayfish and the like. The majority of times I saw coons (lived on the BIG island in the sound) were next to water or actively hunting the banks. Still think you have a coyote or fox. Look around for those tracks. Even a partial helps.
Electric fencing should not harm anything. Just get their attention in a BIG way. High voltage no current. Hurts but won't kill.

 

[chickee]

Quote:
Sounds like a bob cat! That is what has gotten mine and your discription fits to a T! Darn varmits!! It even went through 3 strands of hotwire with a full grown rooster!!

We finally added more height to the fence angled out like a prison with hotwire on the top and it has stopped the bob cat for now

 

[Miltonchix]

Quote:
Sounds like a bob cat! That is what has gotten mine and your discription fits to a T! Darn varmits!! It even went through 3 strands of hotwire with a full grown rooster!!

We finally added more height to the fence angled out like a prison with hotwire on the top and it has stopped the bob cat for now

Unless OP is in Eastern Washington I'd bet no on the bobcat. Eastern Washington near the Blue Mountains is over run with bobcat and lynx. Seen enormous piles of bobcat carcasses where the farmers would just shoot them and throw them in a pile in a ravine. Literally hundreds of them. Still, would run into at least one bobcat nearly everytime I ventured into the Blues. Even been stalked by them.

 

[chickee]

Quote:
Electric fence won't kill anything. Ours gives us a sharp little jolt when touched that feels like being poked with a needle and startles you more than anything! Like I said, a bob cat went right through the hotwire with my rooster. It must have shocked it some because from the evidence, it dropped the rooster going out and then killed the rooster outside of the fence. Our bob cat comes all times of the day so it is a real problem. Only way to be 100% safe is to cover your pen if you can. It is not an option for us because ours is so big. Sorry about your hen! They seem to always get your favorite!

 

[Lbrad7]

A coyote can jump a 5' fence with no problem. Lost my Jack Russell to one inside a 5' fence right in the middle of the day.

 

[turtlebird]

Quote:
WHAT!?! That just blows my mind!
We have seen the predator population explode also, here in MN. I listen to fox call all night, coyote yips very near to the house....sort of makes you wonder what is going on.
Makes ones check and double check fences, locks, etc at night.
Sorry about your loss.

 

[mglewis74]

We have problems with stray dogs, coyotes, and fox around our place. I carry a Remington 870 20 ga. Youth Model loaded with #3 buckshot at all times, but my biggest deterent will be my puppy -- a Great Pyrenees! Rex is only 6 months old, but really taking a keen interest in protecting his chicks! Very sorry to hear of the loss and I know the feeling as we lost our sweet little Frizzle Bantam hen, "Wilma", who sacrificed her life for her five 10-day old chicks. Bruce

 

[MMPoultryFarms]

I know most people don't belive in dispersing on here. (after a incident I had I won't ever shoot anything if i can help it. None the less. We have established already its a carnavor. You can use raw chicken in a live trap Set it in a bowl so it thaws and the blood is in the pan. Put up a few inexpensive Security cams. And I can almost assure you. you can at least identify the critter. Some animals are trap smart so it can be very frustrating.
Out here in Oklahoma they use some kind of syonide traps for overly populated Coyotes. When Our pastures get over ran We would go out in the day time and Use smoke bombs in the holes and run them out of there homes. When you see 20+ coyotes at your backyard gate trying to decide if its worth running threw the dogs it gets a little uneasy. Also Bobcats and mountain lions are anywhere theres a constant water source, (rivers, Creeks, Washouts,) I believe they hunt in 100 mile radius's I don't worry about bobcats to much I own One I use for owl dispersing in my barns. However again as i said previous I am not so hot on killing things anymore. So were currently working on relocating this little girl to a river.
Edited to say a shotgun loaded with epson salt. (Open Up the shell and replace the buckshot with Epson salt.) can be friendly reminder to any animal that your chickens for dinner really are gonna sting for a while. this is the method I use now and it works for me.

 

[elless]

Thanks All! We're going to research and install an electric fence (top and bottom) on our existing 5' wood fence. Should help keep our one domestic kitty in OUR yard too when we are out there

I should have clarified further on how we have things set up. We have our hen house INSIDE a completely enclosed 20' x 20' yard, with heavy duty dog resistant wire and topped with heavy duty poultry netting (the kind that can take a huge snow load or in our area, leaves). We have a small door cut in the yard wire so that our girls can come out into our backyard (completely fenced with the 5' wood fence) and dig, eat greens and dust themselves. Now, I've gotten lax and DID NOT go out to close their yard door Saturday night. I forgot and that was all it took for an enterprising predator since the girls have been letting themselves out at the first hint of light.

Since then I've been religiously closing them up AND sending our Aussie dog out in the early hours to patrol the backyard before I let the ladies out to browse. Last year, Roxy our Aussie chased out the largest raccoon I've ever seen.

Thanks for the tips!
~Lisa