Ok NEED HELP (coyote)

[5peeps]

So I would have never thought this but a week ago I notice a spot by the front of my fence that looked a little dug out ( didn't think twice ) well we were gone over the weekend and my neighbor came over to day and said both friday and saturday in the middle of the day I had a coyote and her pup trying to get in my yard .

So here are my questions .

Will they go away if they can't get into my yard ?

I am now worried about my kids,dog,and neighbors (and that they might get upset about the chickens ) just so happens they are the only ones who know about the chickens which they were fine with ?

I need help I have a fenced yard and I built the run with 1/2 in hardware cloth ,
and I ran it about a foot deep all around the run , the chickens go in at night ..

Any thoughts or ideas would be great ...
Thanks
Will

 

[panner123]

The buried wire should be deep enough. I like to form an L shape out from the bottom of my fence. Were it me, I would get a spot where I could see the the hole and when the second head came though the opening, it would go no farther. The next shot would take care of the other one. It would be trapped in the yard once the hole is plugged with the dead one. If you live in an area where you can't shoot them, trap them.

 

[Chirpy]

You should be concerned but not worried. Take preventative action now - they will continue to come back and try to get to your chickens.

We've had coyotes take small dogs from backyards right in town here and two young children were attacked ... that's rare, but it can happen as coyotes lose their fear of humans.

If you can shoot them - do it. If not, trap them as panner 123 suggested.

Your coop sounds like it is done very well and hardware cloth will keep them out. I don't know if they will dig down further than a foot - my dog will dig almost two feet down when digging holes - so using the "L" shape at the bottom would be a good idea.

My big dogs won't let coyotes come onto our property (they used to come within 20 feet of our front door!) so having a big dog around that has some idea of guarding his/her property would be a good idea.

 

[MandyH]

We live in a coyote infested part of the woods and they will keep coming back year after year once they find food. Maybe your hardware cloth will work for you, but I would dispose of them ASAP. When they bring their friends back to help dig, you might not be so lucky. They will also bring fleas to the yard with them and if you have a dog that goes in and out you will have fleas in the house too. Ask me how I know.

 

[Bossroo]

I hope that you find a dog that can stand up to a pack of coyotes. Both of my Boxers (27" at shoulder, 90 and 95 lbs of muscle) couldn't . My across the street neighbor's Rottwieler/ Border Collie 95lb couldn't. One comes in to bait the dog and when he chases it to the coyote pack, they tear the dog to pieces. You may find it's head and hide and maybe a couple other bones or feet, but not much else. Ask me and my neighbor how we know.

 

[antiquebuff]

Its a problem! The only thing we found was to get a donkey! They will take care of them in a heartbeat!

 

[chiknwhisperer]

A donkey? I would have never thought of that....

 

[Linda in San Diego]

OMG! Donkey? Not boxers. That seems so odd. We have coyote, fox, possum, skunk, and rats here in the suburbs of San Diego. Can't have donkeys, just hope the coyotes don't know that!

 

[nnbreeder]

If you go for a dog get one that was bred for the purpose of dispatching other animals such as an Anatolian Shepard or one of the other good LGDs, and always get two unless you can find a Komondor, only one would be needed as they won't give chase, they stay with whatever they are guarding.

 

[MandyH]

Yes, a donkey will deter coyotes. I just don't have room for one in the pasture, but the rifle fits neatly in the corner of any room .