Old problem, new to me: protecting my chickens from what I assume is coyotes

[Beemidwife]

Last spring we got 10 chickens. 3 Black Rock, 4 Golden Comet and 3 Speckled Sussex. They were excellent layers, we got at least 8 eggs every day.

We lost a golden in the summer but that was all. That seemed a reasonable loss for free range birds (in the coop at night). Then this winter we lost one, then a month later another, and then two in a week. The remaining five (three black, one gold, one speckled) were fine for several months so I thought it was just the lack of available game in winter. Then we lost three in one day Mother's Day weekend. Two Black Rock remain.

In March I bought 3 Brown Leghorn and 2 Bared Plymouth Rock. Then a couple of weeks later bought 8 mystery rare breed chicks. Turns out only one is a rooster, a Silver Phoenix. (I am trying to figure out some of the others, pictures in another post.)

I also bought two geese. They are quite charming, but I don't know how effective they will be as guardians. They are still at the house crapping all over my deck. They are a huge 6 weeks old, too young to move to the barn.

We have never seen any feathers or bodies. We have hawks that nest here, but I saw two coyotes run out of the goat paddock and jump over the fence, frightened by me coming down the drive. Sometimes we hear them at night.

I am exploring my options.

There is a six foot chain link fence with barbed wire on the top around the barn in a 1/2 acre paddock. The gate to that is currently open, leading into the rest of the goat paddock. Across the driveway from the goats is another paddock with the pot bellied pigs. These are fenced with regular 'dog fencing'. The coyotes jumped right over this.

I could keep the chickens in the coop, but I don't want to do that. I could close the chain link, but then the goats would have no shelter unless I closed them in with the chickens. I could put electric wire along the top of the dog fencing, but the chickens don't stay in there anyway. They go where ever they want, even up to the house where we enjoy visiting with them.

I am having a hard time with wanting them to have a happy life, deciding what is acceptable loss, and feeling like I am setting them up for a tragic death.

 

[centrarchid]

Darn you make things difficult. If coyotes or even foxes, then your birds do not have a refuge. Geese will not provide adequate protection even from fox and coyote may get them too. Confinement of birds would do but you appear to be like me insistent on other options. I have resorted to dogs and to make their job easier I have provided birds refuges so dogs have more time to get there. Additionally I have been using electrified fencing (single strand hotwire) my dogs have learned how to get through yet makes so mammals including foxes and coyotes have a difficult time avoiding when pursuing birds in what ever cover I provided. I will be invoking use of electrified poultry netting next for really young birds. Look into an individual calling him / herself JackE when it comes to poultry netting.

 

[Judy]

Mine used to free range, and we gradually lost most of them to fox and coyote, and probably coon, dogs and who knows what else. Now they are in a large fenced yard, about 70' x 70'. It's not free range but it's big enough that greenery grows in there, they have hiding places, and I don't feel like they are confined to a tiny space. It has only a 6' fence but we have had no losses since they were moved in there. Our last losses were to a group of coyotes; it was witnesses by a neighbor. We did have dogs who were safe around the chickens and chased fox, etc. off. We still have the dogs, outside their yard.

I loved having them free range, too, but I can live with this.

 

[BearSpringsFarm]

A good dog or two and a rifle should take care of them for you - I have an Australian Shepherd (pic in avatar) and two Australian German Shepherd crosses (her grown puppies). I have seen Trixie (the one in my avatar) take on three coyotes with no problem - she sent them packing. On the other hand I am not opposed to shooting the coyotes - I just never have a gun on hand when I see one. We haven't had much luck with stranded electrical fencing - the coyotes fur is so thick they just run right through it and keep going - it seems to have to touch their noses for proper effect. I have also though about electrified poultry netting but haven't needed to try that yet. The only thing to keep in mind is that a poorly trained dog (or neighbors pet for that matter) can do just as much damage - if not more than - a coyote.