coyote killing free range hens

[aberdale]

Hi I woke up this morning and put my boy dogs out ( I breed and show shetland sheepdogs) and I happened to look over the back fence into the field behind and saw something laying in the bean between the rows about 100 feet away. I went in and got my binoculars and wasn't sure what it was, maybe a deer fawn or a coyote... it was kind of hidden down in the leaves. I then saw the head come up realized it was a coyote and when I yelled a few times it didn't run. It continued bobbing its head down in the beans. Then I thought this beast has got something then the lightbulb came on, my free range hens would be out and about already...Well I grabbed a stick of fireworks that shoots fireworks with a pop when it hits the end of its flight path and jumped the fence ( I have 4 ft no climb horse fence around my entire 1 1/2 acres) and and when it saw me standing there it jumped up and started to trot towards the back of the field (we have maybe 200 acres of planted beans behind us) I lit the firecracker and ran after it yelling and firing the firecracker at it (12 shots I believe that didn't get anywhere near it but it sure ran). I went down the rows looking to see if I could find any feathers and sure enough I found black feathers.... I only have 2 black hens left, one who hatched out a singleton chick and anther that was hand raised from the time it was a day old and is a people hen. When I got back over the fence I heard peep peep and found the baby all by itself and watched it run back between the fencing into my property. I only saw one rooster on my lawn and my heart stopped beating but the rest came running when I called them. They had actually headed across the road into the corn field on the other side, to hide I don't know. But my only original hen didn't come back either. So they got 2 of my hens this morning including my latest broody hen who had the chick. I have lost 8 chickens in the past year to coyotes and they are actually getting them in daylight hours as the hens start out on their free range daily jaunts in the local field. When I asked the feed store guy what he suggested he said to shoot them. Well I do not have a gun but am considering getting one (the hunter that the township hires to keep the population in check killed 60 local coyotes this spring alone and 120 local coyotes last year. What would everyone suggest as I really hate to put my now 10 birds into a coop when they were all kept and enjoyed as free range. They are my much loved pets first and foremost and most were rescue birds that I bought at a local livestock auction and have gone on to become healthy good laying hens as well as a few 3rd generation home breds....

At this point the coyotes have not attempted to come back on to my property to get my hens now that I have it fenced but I can't get my driveway gate chicken proofed enough to keep them completely in my own yard.

 

[citrusdreams]

Can you keep your boy dogs out with the chickens more? That might deter another coyote visit until you can find a way to better protect them while they're free ranging.

Why not get a LGD?

 

[aberdale]

my boy dogs have their own dog run and I do take them for a run around my property and have them "mark" everywhere. Maybe I should take my boy dogs for a walk in the field beside and behind me and let them "mark" out there too!! I would just be afraid that my boy dogs were in the same area as my hens they might think of them as lunch as I have had that happen occasionally in the past when they cornered a hen and packed on her.

Even my boyfriend "marks" in various spots around my property as I have been told that human males urine can deter coyotes as well.

I have not had a visit on my property since I put my fence up last fall as they got in and killed 3 of my chickens right from the coop, until I put an electric fence around my coop which halted them with one kiyeing screech for the time being until I did get my permanent fence up. Now they have not (touch wood) attempted to come on to my property inside the fence yet. I also have 3 miniature horses (including one small protective stallion) that are pastured in their fenced area 24/7 but have access to a run in barn behind my house and my coop is attached to the back of my house with the perimeter property fence plus the horse fence between them and outside.
I do have a german shepherd spayed female that I recently got to do property watching but she's still in the training stage to not chase the horses and to listen to my commands so don't want to leave her out at night until I know she won't go over the fence and hurt them. I do not know, if she was left out would she keep them away and the fact that the coyote wasn't even interested in looking in our direction when I put all my dogs out this morning makes me think he's not worried about the dogs presence.

 

[David M.]

At our local hardware store they sell freeze-dried Mountain Lion urine (I know, sounds gross). Buy some and sprinkle it around your property lines. Its meant to keep deer, rodents and rabbits away, but it will work with coyotes too as the lion is more dominate.

 

[mmwb]

I'm sure that I may get some debate on this, but don't waste your time and money on urines. They are not deterrents. If you had actual fur from a lion, that might make a difference, but even then only if you have lions in the area and the coyotes recognize what a lion is. They have no compunctions about killing cats in general. Cat urine is an attractant.

Trappers often have problems with deer, rabbits, and cattle when using urine (as a furbearer/predator attractant). It has a high salt content which attracts all those critters that are supposed to be repelled by the urine. I know one old trapper who, as an experiment, used human urine at some of his coyote sets. He caught coyotes at those sets. Your dogs are canines, like coyotes and foxes. Your dogs marking will not keep the coyotes away. It will help them identify that specific canines are in the area, and they will likely mark those same spots themselves. If they perceived that the dogs were invading their area, they might even come in and kill the dogs. The same stands for foxes, except they will not likely challenge a dog unless it is one of those miniature varieties.

They will be back. I would keep the chickens in an enclosed yard for some time.

 

[ivan3]

Agree with mmwb. Urine/radios/etc. is akin to kissing one's lucky thumb knuckle. Even if it causes the predator to pause the first few times (unusual scent) finding tasty chooks in the same area will cause the smell of urine, etc. to evolve into a conditioned stimulus and cause the predator to start drooling in anticipation of a meal.

Lock `em down and evaluate your alternatives.

Good luck.

 

[Sitka]

If possible, get a donkey. They hate coyotes and will chase them.

 

[chickenbottom]

i personally say invest in a gun we have cougars here and i dont want to risk myself getting hurt goblin the goat or my chickens they may be on the list for endangered species idk but if they are trying to get any of those and im around i bet you five dollars hes gonna get one right between the eyes. ive never had to shoot it its just a shotgun ive only shot a riffle before and a hand gun but im pretty sharp at those im sorry you lost some of your chickens its hard and i hope you find a solution

 

[luvmychicknkids]

It is one thing to free range during the day, but leaving them unprotected all night is just offering them up to feed the local wildlife. I say forget the gun, the donkey and the various and fun urine assortments. Buy a COOP!!!!

 

[aberdale]

I do have a coop and they go into the coop every night without fail. Most are in before its even dusk and my one silkie rooster would rather keep me company until almost dark before he goes in.

Interesting note, I was up and out at 6 am today as I have a dog show to go to and went to check on the chickens and only the roosters had ventured out. Normally at this time of the morning they are all out wandering around the yard. The hens were still up in the roosts...on a good note: the 2 week old chick has been taken under the wings of the roosters and has been staying pretty close. It too headed into the coop last night. and was just outside the door of the coop looking for bugs when I went out to check them. There were no signs of coyotes in the field this morning and I went and got some more food for the hens and put lots out beside the house so they don't have to go forging quite so early if they don't want to.

A bit off topic but quick word about my boys.
I have 4 roosters a 6 yr old red sex link x, 2 silkies and a white bantam whom was brought in a few months ago with a pair of hens and the only one that causes any issues is the bantam and he thinks hes bigger then everyone else!! Not an aggressive bird but he doesn't want to be at the bottom of the totem pole. All 3 of the other roosters have their pecking order and get along and my eldest is the most gentle of birds..... he loves people and other animals and protects his girls with vengeance but he is not one to pick a fight just because there's another rooster near and that is why I kept him. He does however look out for and protect his little harem. Often times I will get up in the morning and go sit out at the patio table with a coffee and he will come over beside me to sit in the sunshine and keep me company. I never thought I would ever be attached to chickens but now that I have had them for about 6 or 7 years they are the most fun pets and companions and each has their own personality once you get to know them. Its so funny to watch them go for a walk with me around the property following me out to get the mail and then back to the house.....oops, sorry a bit off topic.