Utah!

[the-bird-man]

Well, tonight I had a scare!!

While closing up the coops I thought two of the neighbor's tom cats were giving each other a bad time, just over the berm, at the edge of our property, that separates us from the desert. Then a horrible noise started up that made me realize something really bad was going on. As I scampered up the berm, I shown my flashlight up the hill. Within 10 feet, right above me was a coyote. Seconds later another one shot within feet of me after one of my cats. Startled and fearful for the cats which follow me around, waiting to be fed and put up for the night, I yelled at the coyote, which was busy trying to catch the one cat that was ricocheting from one tree to another, just trying to have enough time to actually climb one. She did make it up one tree... finally!! Unfortunately, my one neighbor's cat ran towards one coyote, in all the commotion. I don't want to think what happened to it. Now, I'm on patrol... unable to sleep!!! I've already alerted the neighbors and tomorrow, a coyote hunt is planned. I hate the thought but my pets, livestock and poultry are now threatened. As these coyotes seemed unafraid of me, that is also a concern!! Up until now, my guineas have kept them away, for almost two years, something has obviously changed to make them so desperate. Since there seems to be an over abundance of rabbits this year, it can't be that they're hungry and unable to find food. I just hate predator difficulties!!!! Thought the skunks were bad!! Guess tomorrow the coops stay closed!!!

coyotes are scary! you know there is a bounty on them right? not only would you be protecting your animals and family but you can raise money for your animals and family. they used to say coyotes will not attack people but it happens often now. if it was me i would keep a hand gun on me when i go out because you never know when you will need it. be careful and good luck with the hunt

 

[UtahChickenDad]

Whats the verdict?

MEds for 10 days , but nothing to worry about the others getting. Vet said he see 2 to3 chickens a month during spring and summer months.

 

[briansnarr]

Well, tonight I had a scare!!

While closing up the coops I thought two of the neighbor's tom cats were giving each other a bad time, just over the berm, at the edge of our property, that separates us from the desert. Then a horrible noise started up that made me realize something really bad was going on. As I scampered up the berm, I shown my flashlight up the hill. Within 10 feet, right above me was a coyote. Seconds later another one shot within feet of me after one of my cats. Startled and fearful for the cats which follow me around, waiting to be fed and put up for the night, I yelled at the coyote, which was busy trying to catch the one cat that was ricocheting from one tree to another, just trying to have enough time to actually climb one. She did make it up one tree... finally!! Unfortunately, my one neighbor's cat ran towards one coyote, in all the commotion. I don't want to think what happened to it. Now, I'm on patrol... unable to sleep!!! I've already alerted the neighbors and tomorrow, a coyote hunt is planned. I hate the thought but my pets, livestock and poultry are now threatened. As these coyotes seemed unafraid of me, that is also a concern!! Up until now, my guineas have kept them away, for almost two years, something has obviously changed to make them so desperate. Since there seems to be an over abundance of rabbits this year, it can't be that they're hungry and unable to find food. I just hate predator difficulties!!!! Thought the skunks were bad!! Guess tomorrow the coops stay closed!!!

oh man I hope you get the coyotes! I just had a fox attack last week and kill 9 of my 12 chickens. It was not a fun experience! Hope you can get the buggers! Be careful though, coyotes that aren't afraid of humans are bad news!

 

[Desert Springs]

Wow! What a scary encounter!
I hope you are able to get the coyotes on your hunt, as it sounds like they are behaving in a seriously troubling manner.

coyotes are scary! you know there is a bounty on them right? not only would you be protecting your animals and family but you can raise money for your animals and family. they used to say coyotes will not attack people but it happens often now. if it was me i would keep a hand gun on me when i go out because you never know when you will need it. be careful and good luck with the hunt

I'm hoping we have good luck

. There is an existing problem however... we are surrounded by Indian reservation. The Indians DO NOT care what destruction the coyote cause, and their is no hunting on their land without a permit, which comes with a hefty price. There is a very fine line of private property around here and I just hope we encounter the pack while they are on it.

MEds for 10 days , but nothing to worry about the others getting. Vet said he see 2 to3 chickens a month during spring and summer months.

So glad it wasn't something really bad!!!!!

 

[Desert Springs]

oh man I hope you get the coyotes! I just had a fox attack last week and kill 9 of my 12 chickens. It was not a fun experience! Hope you can get the buggers! Be careful though, coyotes that aren't afraid of humans are bad news!

Yea Brain, apparently there is a new den close by. A neighbor told me a couple days ago that a coyote tried to take off with their young dog while they were out riding horses. They went back with a gun, but missed. This must be the same pack.... and they're coming in off the desert for easy food.

This makes me very unhappy 'cause I just don't have time to devote to predators...ugh!! I spent tons of time on the skunks that were just here!!

 

[briansnarr]

Yea Brain, apparently there is a new den close by.  A neighbor told me a couple days ago that a coyote tried to take off with their young dog while they were out riding horses.  They went back with a gun, but missed.  This must be the same pack.... and they're coming in off the desert for easy food.  

This makes me very unhappy 'cause I just don't have time to devote to predators...ugh!!   I spent tons of time on the skunks that were just here!!

if it makes you feel any better my dog just got sprayed by skunk. Poor dog! I can not wait until I'm out of here. This house is a death sentence. Now my dog stinks very bad and the bath did nothing for the smell

 

[Desert Springs]

if it makes you feel any better my dog just got sprayed by skunk. Poor dog! I can not wait until I'm out of here. This house is a death sentence. Now my dog stinks very bad and the bath did nothing for the smell

I did the skunk thing last month...lol. My dog was sprayed twice. Found 6 adult skunks and 8 babies UNDER one chicken coop.

 

[sillycmoy]

OMG Desert, how scary for you and all your animals. I hope you get the pack. My parents live on out skirts of Albuquerque, and they get coyotes, all the time. You hear them howling 1/2 the night. Usually if one does come by the house, just a flash light towards them scares them off. I'm so sorry that yours are fearless of people. So very sad how society makes these wild animals have to move in with us.

I do know if they feel threaten, and they don't have a way to escape, they will attack, but more so like a dog, bite and run off. At least the ones by my moms. Her neighbor cornered one in their yard one day, and it had no where to go, and he was only armed with a shovel, the coyote bit his arm really good, but only bit once and brought him hard on the ground and then ran off.

Can you maybe call animal control to see if they can be trapped an re-located since your so close to the Native Lands. That's what they do by my moms if they get one that is always walking the streets. They are all protected out there, most of the land around my parents is all Native Lands.

 

[sillycmoy]

So my huge coop is totally built by my husband. hehehe, at least he was totally willing to help me out. Not how I would have done it, but its totally closed in, has tons of ventilation, but he forgot to put in my 2 windows that I asked for, but I can easily still add them in. He said he was thinking about winter, and that I shouldn't have the windows there with the blowing snow we get up here. Oh well, I will get them in there. But I'm sure the chickens don't care one bit. They were in their jumping and flying all over the place this morning. I need to try and get my roosts done today, and finish the nest boxes sometime this week.

So question.... What to do with the floor. I've decided to just leave it dirt, there are a few really soft spots that they love to dust bathe in, but just about all of it is like hard packed dirt. So do I just through in shavings and straw? Or should I use sand and just straw in the boxes?

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

Could you use olive oil on the roost? Where do you get neem oil?

I have read most oil works. Motor oil is supposed to be great. The reason I like neem oil--read about it on that natural chicken keeping blog--lots of great organic/natural stuff on there--neem oil is in the garden section at most stores, used to kill critters on roses and fruit trees, just look for the active ingredient. I think the 3-in-1 labeled stuff is one of them...cheap if you buy the concentrate, it makes tons, and you can use it all over your yard too It kills bugs and disease and fungus, all three so it is great on quakie trees prone to blackspot/powdery mildew and roses (aphids) all kinds of stuff. Love it. You can spray it on your coop walls as well to deter the red mites.

Desert---Love the "Chicken Nerds Unite" ( That should be our slogan on here! Woot! )

That is troublesome about your new predators...you have put SOOOO much time into your flock, money, and energy. I would be hunting those things too..you just cannot afford that kind of problem. I hope others over there are willing to join in the hunt. If I lived closer I would come over and go! I hate coyotes. I had one attack my horse years back, one of my favorites and have had a grudge ever since, those and the wolves--in Idaho they are outta control. The animal rights people keep fighting for them--the wolves--they were on the endangered list for a long time and you could not even shoot one to save your herd..finally were taken off..due to so many attacks up around some property we have there...last I heard you could get a tag to kill them but only so many, they have hurt and killed people around the Challis/Salmon/Sun Valley area and the animal rights people seem to worry more about those wolves than the people, pets, and livestock that is being attacked. We had one approach us near a campground by our property..some of these wolves are gigantic, our friend killed one and held it up in a picture and this thing was twice his size, head as big as a giant pumpkin. Hard to please both sides! What to do! Crossing fingers this does not become a problem for your flock!