Protocol for after a predator attack? (Coyotes)

[arizona_chicken_noob]

This morning I was so very sad to have lost 4 of my 6 Dominiques to coyotes. It is my fault, I got home late and forgot to close the pop door last night. Then they let themselves out in the morning when they felt like it, and the attack happened probably at 8:00am.

My question is, what do you do in the days following a predator attack?

Obviously the coyotes now know where some birds live, and will probably come around regularly. I have put the remaining 2 birds in the indoor coop and plan to keep them there for a couple days, and at some point I can let them into a small enclosed run. Our usual free range (in the yard) schedule was 9:30am to 6pm and I did go into it eyes wide open about predators.

I am just not sure how long a coyotes memory lasts and what a wise confinement plan is for now.

 

[nuthatched]

Keep them in their inclosed area for two weeks or more, then they out get out when you're around.

 

[arizona_chicken_noob]

Thanks @nuthatched, I will do the full 2 weeks and gosh I hope coyotes will strike my yard from their "easy feast" list in time.

It feels pretty rotten to have your birds killed but better to have a lot of camaraderie on BYC and I know they had a really good life while they were here.

(I should have added, I work from home so they are virtually always supervised. When I don't mess up, anyway.)

 

[nuthatched]

Thanks @nuthatched, I will do the full 2 weeks and gosh I hope coyotes will strike my yard from their "easy feast" list in time.

It feels pretty rotten to have your birds killed but better to have a lot of camaraderie on BYC and I know they had a really good life while they were here.

(I should have added, I work from home so they are virtually always supervised. When I don't mess up, anyway.)

Lost my whole flock (but one) last summer, it rough but know that coyotes kill quick and most of our chickens have great lives. Don't be too hard on yourself.

 

[mowin]

Sorry about you chickens.
You mentioned leaving the pop door open. Do they have a secure, predator proof run?

 

[arizona_chicken_noob]

I do have a secure run, although it is small. About 3.5 x 8 feet. For the two chickens I still have, I think this would be adequate as "outdoor time" if I never wanted to let them go all over the yard again.

Their 4x6 coop (which I am counting separate from their run) is even more secure and inside a shed with a concrete floor. They were clearly attacked in the yard at large but I guess I could even push past the 2 weeks and just keep them in the coop and run, so long as it's just the 2 of them.

 

[mowin]

Sounds like you didn't have enough secure outdoor space for the chickens. We all learn from our mistakes. Sorry you had to learn to most difficult way ever. Doesn't make you a bad chicken keeper. Learn and adopt for your area.

 

[McChooky]

Coyotes don't have a bad memory. They'll be back.

 

[McChooky]

This morning I was so very sad to have lost 4 of my 6 Dominiques to coyotes. It is my fault, I got home late and forgot to close the pop door last night. Then they let themselves out in the morning when they felt like it, and the attack happened probably at 8:00am.

My question is, what do you do in the days following a predator attack?

Obviously the coyotes now know where some birds live, and will probably come around regularly. I have put the remaining 2 birds in the indoor coop and plan to keep them there for a couple days, and at some point I can let them into a small enclosed run. Our usual free range (in the yard) schedule was 9:30am to 6pm and I did go into it eyes wide open about predators.

I am just not sure how long a coyotes memory lasts and what a wise confinement plan is for now.

Sorry for your loss!

 

[arizona_chicken_noob]

Coyotes don't have a bad memory. They'll be back.

I think this is true, and I don't really expect them to "forget" but more along the lines of diminishing returns. If they come back 10, 20, 100 times and get nothing, at some point they will have to demote my yard from easy pickins to regular territory status.

This incident is totally my fault and the coyotes are just doing what they do to survive. And it's up to me to make sure what we do next is better and smarter than the predators.