who else hates coyote's?

[Black Feather]

I have to agree with Pedro. 'Hate' is an emotion that is too strong to use on an animal, it's not worth the time, energy, or resources to hate an animal for being what it is naturally. I'd be more inclined to hate or be angry with myself for being too stupid to secure my animals better. Been there, done that and have learned valuable lessons from it.

My thoughts are that if I have chickens then I should be responsible for researching the predators in my area and building proper facilities for the birds. Case in point....we have coyotes and dogs in the area, so do I use chicken wire to build my runs?....no, I go out an raid the scrap metal yards form chain link fence. I bury the fence over a foot in the ground and viola...coyote/dog proof fencing. I don't do it in chicken wire and then cry how I hate coyotes/dogs for breaking in.

Sort term pain for long term gain. It WILL take more work and money to build solid fencing/barns. In four years I've never had to clean up after a predator though.

Urban Coyote

 

[h8mtv]

We are getting alot of coyotes in this part of Va. Thanks to Stag Arms there are a few less around these parts.

 

[paganfish]

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NO KIDDING?

 

[paganfish]

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Yes, I did this too.

The more I read about how *smart* coyotes are and how sharp badger claws were...the more discouraged I got but dang those eggs and fresh meat beat it all to heck.

I just dove right in and did the best job I could. I still cringe when I hear coyotes out howling or yipping their merry calls and BUT, I know my birds are safe, sound and tucked in nicely...I don't worry.

My friends were all weirded out because I was being TOO cautious but now...they have NO problem getting eggs from me!

There was a time when I would use the word "Hate" so flip now, I try to refrain from it. It's too powerful a word and it takes FAR too much energy out of me. Besides, 99% of the time..that which I was so enraged (hate) at...doesn't even know it! They are going on with their lives. While I spin in rage. No thanks! LOL!

~:-V

 

[gritsar]

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Pedro, couldn't have said it better myself! Blessings! Kat

 

[Rocky4052]

Yes, coyotes are bad news. I agree that it probably wasn't a coyote that performed that dastardly deed---they usually grab one and run. There is one {possibly more} in the wooded area behind my house. I live in an area of the city that is not fully developed yet, but is headed that way fast. The construction around here is driving them closer to civilization. I spotted one last week staring down my leghorns that I had just let out to free-range. I rushed outside and yelled- It stood there and looked at me for 5-10 seconds, and then turned and ran into the woods. I let the chickens out in the afternoon when there's about 1 to 1 1/2 hours of sunlight left and keep an eye on them. They really love to be out, and I don't want to deprive them of that unless I really have to!

 

[Hotwings]

First off I like to say I am truly amazed at the positive responses to coyotes. I would of thought this thread would be running over with posts on killing them all off. I know having your animals killed by a predator or domestic animal is troubling but it is only my opinion that it is man that has moved into their habitat. I wouldn't want to live in a world without wild animals. In fact I see more wild animals in the city than in the country. I saw my first coyote for the first time many years ago right here in city, a suburben neighborhood. I thought I was seeing things till the paper the following day reported coyotes were the cause of killing of the cat population. A few weeks ago and a cold and crisp night when I was at freebie's farm I heard my first coyotes singing in the distance. It was amazing, but I was also worried about their baby pigs too. I was also amazed when a few years ago I saw a sharpshinned hawk nabbed a mourning dove right at my birdfeeder. I was sad that the dove was dead afterall it was my feed the dove was after. I was also amazed at this little hawk and I was wittnessing a act that I see only on tv. I saw my first wild mink also while walking my dog in a wetland habitat. I thought he was a ferret. I read that the sign of mink is that wetland habitats are bouncing back. We cannot kill off every animal we see. Times are tough for predators too. As humans we can take precautions by knowing our predators, reinforcing our fences, getting guard animals and etc.. Just remember we may be chicken lovers here but to many say for example people living in Key West, Fla the chickens are the pests. I am sure there are people there that would love to see them all killed.

 

[LisaJean]

I have to admit that if I had a coyote problem in my area, I probably would feel a little hostile toward them. But being in semi-urban central North Carolina, we just don't see them.

My backyard has chain link around it, plus my ladies have an enclosed run and coop, with hardware cloth all around it. A predator will really have to work to get at my girls, and the neighborhood is crawling with squirrels and rabbits that would probably be an easier meal.

 

[Black Feather]

Pedro I couldn't agree more. I have a few friends who think I'm batty for taking the precautions that I do and preaching 'safe enclosures' vs 'eradicate the wildlife'. Guess what? I have not lost a single bird to predators yet, and they loose birds regularly to predators. The proof is in the pudding so to speak.

I find a lot of the attitude toward predators somewhat disturbing. You see a lot of words like 'hate', 'kill', 'trap' and 'eradicate'. Hate is the kind of emotion I would reserve for a rapist or murderer, not a raccoon or coyote. Many times people do not look at the benefit a predator provides to the environment. It's all about perception. In the past wild dogs in Africa were loathed like our coyotes, and now thanks to that human loathing and domestic disease they are one of the worlds most endangered big predators.

Anyway, I digress. I think education, and proper animal husbandry would go a loooong way toward people and predators living side by side instead of humans taking the easy route and killing off any and all of the predators we don't like.

Urban Coyote

 

[jenichick]

it was because of the coyotes we buried our 1/4 inch wire mesh 6 inches into a footing of 1 foot wide concrete all the way around the run. I could have bought 1,000 chickens with what we spent on wire mesh and concrete, but I doubt they ever get into it. As long as they don't come into my garage or front yard again to take my small animals they'll probably be ok. I still want to find there den so I can see how many collars we find in it.