Need to Vent - Coyote

[cactus-hen]

Coyotes can scale a 6 foot chain link fence They can also did under. They can fit through the tiniest openings. I lost 19 chickens over the course of two and a half months last spring.They were free range on 1.5 acres of fenced yard. I was away for ten days and five were missing when I got back. DH couldn't count. When I got back I knew we were missing a few. I walked the fence but couldn't see were they were getting in. The chickens were locked up. I finally found a dug out area in a wash under brush. It was no more that six inches deep. Fixed that and kept the chickens in the pen for two weeks. They only were let out at noon and put back about four. Lost another two. I was home at the time and the dogs were here also. Back they go. Found another dug out by a gate. Again not more than six inches big. I kept all the chickens in the pen and two weeks later three were missing from the pen. I jury rigged a hot wire around the pen. Three days later a coyote tried to get in the pen and was jolted but good. Now the chickens only free range when I'm out with them. Coyotes are insidious.

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[cobrien]

If they persist I'd seriously consider a livestock guardian dog even though it is a big time investment up front. but sounds like your neighbor is close, these types of dogs bark a lot. good luck.

 

[NateinFL]

Hopefully there will never be coyotes in my immediate vicinity but if there are, i cant wait for the day i get to shoot it! They're not native to this part of the US they are only able to survive b/c of all the human garbage we have supplied them and their prey animals with.

 

[trulefty]

Got the gun out, by the time I got out it was about 100ft (I'm not that good without a scope). I followed it 400mtrs to the road and found my neighbour with his gun as well - neither of us got a shot off! URGH!!

Get you a bigger gun so you can shoot them farther away. I shot one at about 125yards this morning.​

 

[cw]

100ft is only 33.3 yards, you say your not a good shot with out a scope? you need some practice cause that is still shotgun and or bow a range. have you tried useing a shotgun?
now i work 3 rd as well and this is an advantage if you have a coyote problem, get yourself a flood light and make some phone calls (tell the neighbors your gonna thin them out)
i dont know your surroundings but try to set up in a shadow and to where your shooting in a safe direction, or if you own enough land use a shotgun,.
a rabbit distress call, and fresh rabbitt poop will make for an interestin night (youll be covered up in coyotes all night long)

 

[This'l'do]

The problem wasn't the range. It's what I have as a backstop - which was the entrance to my driveway - I used to shoot competitively and I will never take a shot unless certain that it will hit the target and won't hit some poor sap walking by if I miss the target. If the coyote had been the other way wandering into my back 40 I wouldn't have hesitated in taking the shot. Recently in the public woods near us a hunter shot a deer and a stray pellet struck a hiker and killed her.

Called me old fashioned but I'd rather let the coyote go than face manslaughter charges!

 

[This'l'do]

Thanks for the advice about the rabbit. I'll give that a go. My DH was just laughing at me for confusing meters and feet must be nightshift kicking in with the lack of sleep.

 

[cw]

i uderstand completly, i work 3rd as well. and i myself have gotten yards and ft mixed as well,
defintly try the rabbit litter and distress call, es at night you wont believe what you see

 

[babsbag]

I live where we hear coyotes almost every night and see evidence that they have been too close for my comfort. I have both chickens and goats, both behind a 4ft high fence with two hot wires inside and one outside. There will be a few more added this spring. One lower to the ground on the outside. The chickens are closed in a run at night, inside the elecrtic fence, with another set of wires around their run and coop. The goats also get locked up in another pen at night. But I still don't feel they are really safe. Those coyotes are mighty smart.

Whenever we hear them we fire off a few rounds from our 12 gauge and that shuts them up...for a while. When our goats had their first kids last spring I bought an electronic wildlife deterrent. Every 7 or 8 minutes, all night long, this thing lets out a yell that imitates a mountain lion scream. It will stand your hair straight up the first few times you hear it. The volume is adjustable, and the one I have is supposed to keep predators away on up to a five acre parcel, but I don't have it turned up that loud. I can't say for sure that it is working, but I haven't lost goats or chickens this year other than from the neighbor's dog.

I have not seen anymore scat in the area around the pens or within range of the deterrent.

They aren't cheap, but I was getting pretty nervous about the goats (pre-chickens) so I thought it was worth a try. Here is the website. I am not endorsing the product, or saying that it is working, just giving another option. I might just be lucky for now. Good luck and keep up the good fight.


http://www.freewebs.com/walnut_creek_enterprises/

 

[ninny]

This'l'do :

We never used to get Coyotes around the house, the dogs used to scare them off. Last winter 2 wolves came up and miraculously my dogs came out on top - one of the wolves died, but after $200 in vet bills and a mandatory 45 day quarantine I'd rather they didn't have to defend the hens against them again!

Im wondering what kind dogs you have? My mom likes coyotes and lets them run all over her yard and everything. Its kinda neat watching them and at the same time i'm yelling at her for letting them. She has tiny dogs and ponies. The ponies will defend themselves nicely but still. One thing that help for a bit at least was having all the men pee around the yard. That and the mastiff keeps them away for a bit too. But their getting way to bold.​