Without a Trace Seen with my eyes

[14was1521]

So a couple months ago I posted a thread about my girls disappearing without a trace, no feathers, bodies, etc. Well I witnessed the culprit, and not to my surprise it was Coyote. I kept them locked up and for the First time in 4 days the ladies got to go out, while I was outside fixing a enclosure for them (was gonna be the last time for unsafe freedom), and I in less than 30 minutes, I heard the panicked and upset squaks, I went to hollerin, and running as I just knew, and sure enough, coyote ugly had got one and I guess my hollerin and popping a couple shots caused it to drop the bird for a second and then it disappeared, was gone so fast, like a vampire. Anyways, no more fun free ranging, they now have a 20ft diameter enclosure to “free range” in,

 

[sloanbychoice]

We free ranged our first year.
Never again.
Between hawks, coyotes, and dogs, I lost almost my entire flock that summer.
It was heartbreaking.

 

[Callender Girl]

So sorry for your loss. Coyotes are plentiful around here; I can sometimes hear singing from two or three directions at once in the night. It's sad that you can't free range like you used to, but kudos for penning your girls to keep them safe.

I let my birds out but only when I am home to keep an eye out. Hope everybody is okay from now on. BTW, I can see all my birds because they are housed and free range on the south side of my yard, which I watch from windows that line that side. But I know it only takes a moment for a predator to strike.

 

[HappyClucker7]

I don't free range either. Where I live, we have bears, coyotes, coywolves, foxes, opossums, raccoons, hawks, falcons, eagles, and owls. Not to mention a neighbor who has a bengal cat. If I would free range, my chickens would all have been dead in a month. I do let them into a netted area when I'm there to watch them though. They really love to be able to run around and scratch and eat bugs. I'm sure they would like to be out all the time, but it's a small price to pay for safety.

 

[14was1521]

We free ranged our first year.
Never again.
Between hawks, coyotes, and dogs, I lost almost my entire flock that summer.
It was heartbreaking.

It is heartbreaking

 

[14was1521]

So sorry for your loss. Coyotes are plentiful around here; I can sometimes hear singing from two or three directions at once in the night. It's sad that you can't free range like you used to, but kudos for penning your girls to keep them safe.

I let my birds out but only when I am home to keep an eye out. Hope everybody is okay from now on. BTW, I can see all my birds because they are housed and free range on the south side of my yard, which I watch from windows that line that side. But I know it only takes a moment for a predator to strike.

Mine can’t come out to play anymore, I have too much thick woods, too many creepers. I’m hoping to fence in my yard sometime so they can scratch and be somewhat free happy chickens.