Asking for ideas on how to "manage" coyotes

[babsbag]

could be a chupacabra; I have that kind of luck.

 

[Latestarter]

Based on no evidence left behind, I would think "cat" of some sort, most likely bobcat. A bobcat could very easily carry off a LF bird and leave no evidence behind whatsoever. Most attacks from the air would leave at least some feathers behind from the struggle. And of course skunk/coon/etc attacks tend to leave lots of evidence that they occurred. Foxes could go either way, as could coyotes I guess. Whatever is doing the killing, I hope you either block it successfully or kill it. Sorry for those tremendous losses. That's a lot of birds to lose.

 

[babsbag]

I have/had a lot of chickens and I never do a head count. Looking back at it now I recall thinking that there seemed to be more room on the roosts. I hatch out a lot of chicks and have many mixed breed chickens that look very similar so it is hard to notice that one is missing. It was the ducks disappearing that made me take notice. Egg production is way down too but they are molting so I just figured it was that. I am made at the predator buy also mad at myself for not noticing this sooner.

I let my male LGD in the chicken field today just to see what he would do, he hasn't been with chickens in almost 2 years. He didn't chase any but the birds were pretty panicked that this big white dog was running in their field. Then he tried to get in the coop through the pop door, nope, he doesn't fit. Silly dog. I would like to give him access to that area at night and early mornings but to do that I have to leave a gate open to another field and that could be another set up problems having that gate open at night. When the critter comes in to get a chicken I really don't want it to have direct access to the goats. I trust my dogs, but I like keeping the predators on the outside of the field.

 

[Mike CHS]

Babs - some friends have a lot of bamboo on their place and place enough in the ground to hang fishing line in a zig-zag over their chicken run. I don't know if that would be possible at your place.

 

[babsbag]

My chicken run is about 1/4 acre. When they goats and chickens lived together we had fishing line across the pasture and CDs hanging from it. I read though that hawks don't like goats so maybe that helped. I also had the dogs in the field and I know that they don't like hawks or vultures. The field the chickens are in now really does have a lot of cover, more than the goat field had. I think that these attacks were coming from the gap under the fence that I missed. I am kicking myself for not seeing that, but I still want to live with my head in the sand and be amazed that these chickens disappeared during the day. That is one brazen predator as I am outside more often than not. Hopefully I have put an end to it, but I am still seriously considering another dog.

 

[Bruce]

Clearly you need another dog!

I'm sorry you are getting on yourself for not seeing that gap but I understand it because I know *I* am as responsible as the coon that killed the Cubalaya in a non predator safe coop (inside the barn but the coon got in through woodchuck tunnels). However having found that gap and posting it here is helpful since I have some fence to put in that will go over some "lumpy" areas so I will know to look for any "accidental" bottom gaps and deal with them.

And I learned something new - "peeler core". Had to look it up. Now I know to never buy a peeler core post, or any 4x4, 6x6, etc that includes the center part of the tree. Thanks!

 

[babsbag]

I have found that the best way to close in gaps under my fences is with scraps of chain link fencing laid on the ground and tied to the bottom of the fence. The chain link just molds to the uneven earth, it is fairly heavy and eventually it just get covered in duff and becomes one with the earth. On a gap that is 3" I will use maybe a foot wide piece of chain link, it works really well. This area that was about 8" I used a scrap of stock panel, chain link, and hot wire. Since it was a known entrance I wanted to make it very secure.

 

[Bruce]

I can believe that. I made an outdoor run about 18' square with chicken wire for my 2012 chicks before they were old enough to range. Pulled it a month ago to use as "keep the chickens in the barnyard" material on the existing (poor) 3' - 4' fence. WHAT a job getting it free from all the grass that had grown through the openings anchoring it down.

 

[carrie palmer]

First check for the coyote tracks so that the trap can be set. Usually coyotes are trapped using dirt hole procedure . Recently, I was at my wits end in attempting to trap coyotes playing havoc in my backyard. I have a pretty large poultry farm. I adopted few DIY measures, which I found online and tried setting traps but on all occasions they outsmarted me. As a last resort, I sought the help of wildlife removal service, a1 checkmate (http://removethewild.com/services/) . If next time they venture into my backyard, I ll have a go at them. One effective trap, is to take a firm grip of the paw of the coyote which cannot move until the trapper comes close and loosens it. Quite risky for novice trappers! Best would be cage trap or lethal trap. remember to check for the rules of conservation departments of various states. Some suggest using bait, lure or scent. Make sure that you clean the trap thoroughly after you are done with the trapping.

 

[Bossroo]

First check for the coyote tracks so that the trap can be set. Usually coyotes are trapped using dirt hole procedure . Recently, I was at my wits end in attempting to trap coyotes playing havoc in my backyard. I have a pretty large poultry farm. I adopted few DIY measures, which I found online and tried setting traps but on all occasions they outsmarted me. As a last resort, I sought the help of wildlife removal service, a1 checkmate (http://removethewild.com/services/) . If next time they venture into my backyard, I ll have a go at them. One effective trap, is to take a firm grip of the paw of the coyote which cannot move until the trapper comes close and loosens it. Quite risky for novice trappers! Best would be cage trap or lethal trap. remember to check for the rules of conservation departments of various states. Some suggest using bait, lure or scent. Make sure that you clean the trap thoroughly after you are done with the trapping.

Totally wishfull thinking at it's worst. SSS !!!