Pack of coyotes circling the coop last night...

[loot4louie]

They make portable electric for people who camp or hunt. Its a circle that you put around your tent. Maybe you could buy one of those and just turn it on at night or when your daughters not likely to mess with it? I have a 2 year old and know live hotwire would be bad when she was around It would allow you to move their yard as well. Good Luck!!!

 

[andrew6d9]

Shooting them would be my suggestion. You could also build an electric fence but shooting would be the most sure way.

 

[mamabahre]

Quote:
Hmm this is something I am googling right now...I like the idea of a hot wire, just moving the coop is important (at least until the "permanent" one is done) and I would feel so awful if I forgot to turn the wire off on one and my daughter touched it...Oh man that would be a terrible thing.

 

[aggie9296]

some camping places have them for bear avoidance.

i grew up on a farm. i have touched an electric fence more than once. we did not die. it smarted. she will learn to avoid the wire. either by you telling her or by her learning the hard way. red plastic flags or caution tape on it should help remind her. i would rather her get zapped a little than find all her beloved chickies massacred. that would hurt worse

 

[Just_Ducky]

If you're up for getting another dog, you might consider buying a Kuvasz, a Maremma, or a Great Pyrenees. All three breeds have been used to guard sheep from predators (like coyotes) for centuries. And all three breeds have negligible prey drives so they are extremely unlikely to bother any of your stock.

 

[mamabahre]

Quote:
Yeah I seriously disagree with that one...
I have been shocked by fences too, a horse threw into one once, it wasn't just a "zap" it hurt quite a bit...then again I couldn't just let go since I was kinda tangled up in it.
I'm not going to chance my kid electrocuting herself for the sake of my chickens...Adding bright colored ribbons or whatever would only encourage a toddler to touch something like that...They are like magpies, bright things, shiny things attract them.

There are the portable ones, I was googling I like the idea of just turning it on at night and then we don't even have to worry about her touching it...
I would love a Great Pyrenees!! I really like the breed and the fact that if trained right, theoretically there wouldn't be an issue with the dog harassing chickens (I know that isn't always the case)...DH was pretty mad I came home with more baby chicks than I told him I was going to...I don't think another dog would fly:/

 

[Delmar]

Quote:
I have been thinking of building a tractor to use outside our fenced area. If I did so, I would mount the fence charger on the tractor and run a long extension chord to it. Should work fine. You can unplug it when people are around the tractor. Also, it doesn't take animals long to know what not to touch. Your daughter will learn quickly as well.

 

[mamabahre]

yes I appreciate she will learn but I'd prefer for her to not be afraid of the chicken tractor. Toddlers tend to be afraid of things that hurt them, they may stay away but it is still "scary" to them...

I think we will just have to get one that is easy to unplug during they day...

Last night we just casually leaned some branches up around the whole pen just to see if anything came along and knocked them down... All the branches were exactly where we left them so that is nice but I have no illusions about the coyotes just not coming back.

 

[Delmar]

Here is an interesting do it yourself device I saw on a bee keepers forum. Its just a motion detector with lights and a radio. I'm thinking talk radio would be fairly effective.

Also here is a solar powdered predator night light.

http://www.google.com/products/cata...=X&ei=cgC8TaHmCMG1tweNl9TdBQ&ved=0CGAQ8wIwAA#

One of the user comments looked promising

Coyotes use to come up to yard, even chase deer across yard. Now they stay 300-400 yards away at night. We plan on placing 3 on chicken house that is 150-200 feet from home. Raccoons need more discouragement. Will update results after next three installed.​

 

[mamabahre]

hmm very interesting...beekeeping, my FIL is a beekeeper and he would be interested in that himself..A friend I was talking to yesterday suggested I just take fishing line and around coyote height just string it in a perimeter around the coop/run with bells attached at regular intervals..I was skeptical myself because coyotes aren't generally spooked by noises so easily...