Minnesota!

[KlopKlop]

we have only heard them in the distance but no signs of them on our place. I've heard that the scent of female dogs can draw them in during mating season but fortunately our two have not attracted any.

I have a high velocity Winchester super mag waiting for any that care to pester my critters

 

[lalaland]

I actually like the coyotes. Its a good night when I hear them howl but I like hearing the wolves better. ITs been quiet as far as the wolves because dnr had trappers come after they took out a few calves on a nearby farm. They got 9 wolves before they finished.

I supposed could be a coyote that took the chicken too, but...guessing fox.

Coyotes and wolves and foxes have to eat too. But if I had cattle, I'ld be sweating it since it is hard to keep the safe.

 

[holm25]

I actually like the coyotes. Its a good night when I hear them howl but I like hearing the wolves better. ITs been quiet as far as the wolves because dnr had trappers come after they took out a few calves on a nearby farm. They got 9 wolves before they finished.

I supposed could be a coyote that took the chicken too, but...guessing fox.

Coyotes and wolves and foxes have to eat too. But if I had cattle, I'ld be sweating it since it is hard to keep the safe.

You like them!!!???? This is thee first time I've heard a farmer say he liked a predator!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gofeedthegirls]

I actually like the coyotes.  Its a good  night when I hear them howl but I like hearing the wolves better.  ITs been quiet as far as the wolves because dnr had trappers come after they took out a few calves on a nearby farm.  They got 9 wolves before they finished.

I supposed could be a coyote that took the chicken too, but...guessing fox.  

Coyotes and wolves and foxes have to eat too.  But if I had cattle, I'ld be sweating it since it is hard to keep the safe.

I have to agree that I do enjoy listening to the howls at night. Its relaxing to me. I do hunt yotes heavily in the winter time. We got 49 of them last year, and there is still plenty to go around. We get money for the furs and if we get some on a certain ranchers property he gives us an additional 25 bucks. I think yotes and wolves are beautiful animals but they do need to be kept in check. Along with the deer around here.

 

[Cluckies]

I hear the coyotes here and there, mostly in the morning, around 4:30-5 before I go to work. One morning I heard them yipping and yipping, and the cattle across the pond were making all kinds of racket mooing, then all of a sudden I heard the yelp from one of the coyotes, everything went silent, I think a cow kicked him, then they left... I've only actually seen 1 two times going through the horse pasture behind our house, only one though, not a pack.

 

[gofeedthegirls]

Typically a lone coyote wont take on a full size cow. However I have heard of pack taking a mature cow. I have seen a lone coyote take off with a new born lamb.

 

[Cluckies]

I should clarify, when they were after the cows, it was a whole pack, I heard many yipping. But at other times when I saw a couple, it was not a pack, only 1 (daytime)

 

[Cyrus83]

The Little ones came out to play in the run with the two mama birds today.

 

[Rhetts]

I had a pack of coyotes just the other night here too. The sound was something I had never heard before. Very Eerie! At first I thought it was a siren, then I thought it was the neighbor with WAY to many drunks again. I woke up DH and he said it was coyotes. *shudder* they were not barking or yipping they were making very long icky sounds. I didn't sleep a wink the rest of the night. Too scared too. Nope not a fan of coyotes. @gofeedthegirls you can come hunt over here!!

We made a sad discovery this weekend. DH found a broken egg laying in the yard. I went and investigated. It was one of the broody ducks. Poor thing was nearly developed. So sad!!! We checked her nest and 2 of the 4 eggs are gone!!! I was feeling so

and

at the same time. I think the eggs are supposed to hatch this week. I think it might be my cats. Is that possible? We have resorted to keeping the door locked on the duck house and have food and water in there for her. I thought about moving her into a small section of the coop that is empty but I don't want to risk loosing the eggs and her from staying with them if they move. So we are just watching everything very closely.

Your skunk story @NikonD2xer sounds like the one in the house was sick. Yikes! Hope I don't have to deal with that.

Well, my last batch of chicks are 6+ weeks old. I am majorly disappointed. I ordered 4 silver penciled rocks straight run, lost one and 3 look to be male. I ordered 5 blue laced red wyandottes straight run, got one for free and I have 6 that look like males. Big red combs, thick legs, bad feathering, completely bare backs and no tails. Yep, they look boyish to me. I ordered 4 barred rock pullets one looks to be a male. I ordered 5 EEs pullets one looks to be a male. Of course the freebie they sent is a male blue cochin. 12 males out of 25 chicks *sigh* really what is with the males this year?! Super disappointing.

I removed 4 roosters that were in my main flock a few days ago. It is absolutely amazing how different the flock behavior is. For the better! They are calmer, they are not hiding in the coop all day, they seem happier. So now those 4 are running the pasture with the geese and cows. They don't like it much but too bad!! Now I am able to really check out the ones I am considering keeping. I am watching how they behave with the hens, my kids, and the other roos. For sure one is coming out. He has a crooked beak and is low in the pecking order. So that leaves me with 5 in a flock of 32 total. We will see what happens.

Hope everyone is well. Stay hydrated folks!!!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Mistah. For a beginner flock keeper and for the sake of your hens' backs I recommend just keeping one roo. Pick out the smartest predator-wise, friendliest and the one that is good to your hens too.