This morning.... Coyote

[MissFitFarm]

You nailed it one fine!
The "red wolf"
such a joke and people will buy that crap all day long too.

Maybe they are just hungrier here. When they use to come up behind our warehouse there were usually 6 eyes.. 3... we only see 3 together when we actually catch a glimpse... wonder if sometimes it is a mom with her babies... I don't know anything about their breeding cycle. The cattle farm next to us tend to have larger packs when they come in. But yes often you will just see one here and there... maybe they organize.You know the chickens did in Chicken Run! Here it does coincide with kidding season as it is late fall all through winter. Once there are a good deal of other critters out there we don't have a problem... the intensity is usually at it's worst when it is really cold.
For the most part we leave em alone except when they are right on us. Maybe they like it here cuz they think this is the poultry store! Their very own "Kroger".

Kroger hell it's save-a-lot... lol

 

[boothcreek]

The coyoteXWolf occur naturally. Lone solidary male wolves will mate with coyotes if he cannot find other wolves. There use to be pure red wolves, but due to their low numbers most of them are just coyXwolf mutts now.
When the wolf numbers here were low we always had a handful of coy X timber wolf show up on he ranch. Bold like a coyote but pack mentality like a Wolf = big trouble. Had one approach me one morning while feeding the chickens, looked like a coyote but twice the size(closer to the 120lb wolf than the 60 lb yodel-dog) and the build was just a bit off, he was checking the fence for weak spots, looked at me and then sedately trotted off like I was of no concern at all(later that day the neighbour shot him and we had a real nice close look at this natural hybrid, kinda cool).

Now over the last 4 yrs the wolf numbers have sky rocketed so we have 2 packs moving through every few weeks, one pack of 9 and one of 5. All pure wolves, and our resident "pack"(mated pair plus that years pups) of yodel-dogs always disappears on those days(together with our LGDs and livestock not wanting to leave the perimeter of the house).

Our current coyote "pack" seems to have the rules down pat so even if we spot one we generally don't do more than warning shots. They do no bother the cattle/calves and the sheep are usually penned out of reach of the yodel-dogs. They do not approach the main buildings and pens(or get their butts pinched by the LGD). We rather have them then shoot them and get bolder ones move in in their place.

 

[elbesta]

They, brought wolves back to Idaho, artic wolves, around here 4 to 6 pups at a time and they all live. The wolves will kill coyotes so the coyotes move in closer to people. I got a critter getter a 10/22 with a 50rd drum, they can run but they cant hide

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

I don't know if it's been mentioned but the "red wolf" actually originated (a LONG time ago)by crossing timber wolves with coyotes... but it was so long ago that they are now considered their own species... so in order to resurrect the species they are "re-creating" them with coyotes and wolves... however most of them now are mostly coyote crosses or crossed with dogs. There are very few "real" red wolves left...

 

[steenbola]

I have two great GP pups i could use some advice. First the goats mineral blocks are like crack to them. Should i let them go at it hoping they will loose interest sooner or later.

Second they are both females. Will they fight if they go into heat. Can you keep them in seperate areas when their in heat or is it a must they get fixed. If i need to fix at least one when should i do it. Do they need those hormones to reach full size.

Lastly ive lost allot of chickens to coyotes. We have three packs near by. And possibly some might be mexican grey wolves.

 

[steenbola]

Sry i couldnt finish the post my phone messed up..

The losses were in an area i didnt have a perimeter fense. The coops ive had for two years that have an outside perimeter fence the coyotes have never entered. I would see a super highway of tracks all around but they never got in. I've had a bobcat or a mountain lion jump the fence and pull a chicken out. Most people say don't leave your GP alone to defend until there a year to 2 years old.

 

[steenbola]

Sry everyone. If the post window scrolls up I can't get it to go back down to finish my post.

how old do my GP need to be before I can leave them out at night. I want to be able to not have to shut everyone up at night. I'd like to leave them inside the goat pen and lot but not have to shut them in the house every night. The goat lot has its own fence that is inside the main fenced area.

 

[steenbola]

 

[steenbola]

The snow pic their younger. The ones showing the perimeter fence are the most resent pics

 

[Southern by choice]

Many say 2 years but it is all dependent on the dog and much of that is in the raising / training of the dog. IMO that would be unacceptable. By 2 they are a matured LGD perhaps that is what is meant. By 2 all the "kinks" should be worked out and the dog will have a kidding or two they've gone through, new livestock added, all kinds of growing in the job.

With some exception for poultry issues. A good LGD is well able to be on the job by 10 months-1 year of age although they will continue to gain in weight and size up to over 2 years.
More often than not LGD's that cannot be trusted til 2 years either a) did not have proper imprinting by not being with parent stock long enough or b) improper behaviors were not recognized and corrected in a productive manor. c) was not evaluated for LGD work and was not suitable for the job from the beginning.

As far as females fighting... the probability is high. Spaying IMO should not be done til after the first heat cycle or even a bit later so the growth plates may develop. This may not be an option for you. I am not a fan of spay/neuter except in special cases but that is my opinion. If you cannot protect your dogs from accidental matings than spay both.

I am not sure why you are locking them in the house at night... I'm all for acclimating LGD's to all environments but allowing them to sleep with your goats in the barn is part of them learning their job and developing the bond. Couch time and family time will not ruin your dog though and teaching proper house behavior is good!

Welcome to BYH!
Check out the Livestock Guardians Forum.... and post some pics of those beautiful dogs!