Coyotes killing everything, ever heard of this method to kill the predator?

[speckledhen]

Jan, I'm about an hour and a half east of you in the mountains and have been hearing coyotes howling every week since early winter, for the first time this year; I've seen dead ones on the side of the road, but in the 11 years we've been here, this is the first time I've actually heard them. Haven't lost any chickens to them, but I'm sure my time is coming-odds are going to catch up to us, having no predator losses so far in this predator-rich environment. Mine are very safe at night, being locked in their coops, but during the day, not so much, even in their pens. Hope you figure this one out soon. Very frustrating, I know.

 

[jdywntr]

Hi and sorry for your losses. I've lost some to coyotes, during the day but it's been almost a year. As others have said, and it seems you agree, don't listen to the old timers advice. Killing something is one thing but deliberate cruelty another. I'd also avoid the fly bait/poison. There is nowhere you could put it that a coyote could get it and another critter couldn't. Poisoning is usually illegal in most places as it almost always affects other animals. Something would feed on the carcass and die too.

I skimmed so if it wasn't brought up, tighten up your security. I'm lucky here and our coyotes are VERY shy but it seems your's may be more brazen. I only had attacks in the overgrown pasture, even though there were horses and donkeys in there. I stopped letting the birds in the overgrown areas, no more coyote problem for me.

Are you sure it coyotes? In my experience, they took the whole bird, I'd find a trail of feathers (VERY few feathers) leaving the pasture. I find it a little unusual that you are find parts of the birds as coyotes usually take/eat them all. Domestic dogs will do what you are describing though.

 

[speckledhen]

jdywyntr has a point about the evidence left behind. Domestic dogs will kill indiscriminately and rarely eat their kills as a wild predator does. Could be you are dealing with roaming dogs in addition to coyotes. Have had my fill of irresponsible dog owners around here.

 

[janjan1]

I think the reason I find a few body parts is because they take more than one bird at a time. This last one found was only the backbone and wings left along with the feet. Most of the time i do not find anything other than a few feathers.....just a few but perhaps not even a feather other times. I have those parts in another smaller have a heart cage now as I type as bait. I have also moved the new large cage/trap, baited with a live chicken , to the edge of the woods.......and I also threw in some fresh raw beef livers with plenty of blood as added bait. Good and bloody, smelly too and the young rooster was very vocal about being out of the barn away from his flock. Hope I catch something tonite. If I catch something I will post pics.
Jan

 

[speckledhen]

Good luck to you!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Im at wits end. ...My husband made me buy a LARGE have a heart trap with a live well (for a live chicken as bait) that is double caed for its safety. I have not caught anything. Nothing. When I was buying the cage at the local Tractor Supply, there was a couple good ole country guys who asked me what I was attempting to catch.... They told me right off, little lady, you aint gonna catch a yote with that thing. You are wasting your cash & time, but if you want to catch a yote we will tell you exactly how...

janjan, there is an old but an honorable initiation tradition in most rural communities called a SNIPE hunt. Congratulations, you have just been on your first and I hope your last SNIPE hunt. If however you need or want to catch very many coyotes a good #2 or #3 Double Coil Spring foot hold trap is the way to get results. There are many sights on the web that will show you how to trap coyotes. Besides a treble hook baited with meat is more likely to hook one of your own chickens than a coyote. I do doubt that coyotes are a protected species in Georgia and they can be shot, trapped, and hunted year round, night or day. Your local game warden is the man to ask. In the hands of a good rifleman or riflewoman a scoped .17 caliber rifle is fine yote tonic.

Click below to see how best to deprive Mr. or Ms. yote of their fur coat.

 

[Haunted55]

If all else fails...try an electric fence. They work whether you are there or not. I have both plug in and solar. Initial outlay for them isn't cheap but neither is the loss of birds over and over. 20 some odd years ago I had 4 grown turkey hens and 8 poults. I let them range and never had any issues as I was there in the yard with them during the day and at night they were locked up. I had to leave to help my mother one day, was only gone 10 minutes as she lived right down the road and when I got back 6 of the 8 poults were layed out in a line as if someone wanted to show what they had done. This time of year as well. The babies are learning to hunt for themselves and didn't take the meat, just killed. A month later one of the hens decided to go broody and hid at the edge of the woods on her nest, before I could get her off of it, a coyote, actually more wolf than coyote, ran up and ripped the back of her neck out and peeled the skin right off her back. Right in front of me! Even though someone ran for a gun, we couldn't get a clear shot at her. I had been marked as an easy place for a meal and it seems to me you have been as well. If you don't do something drastic to make them change their minds, you will continue to be hit over and over again.

 

[centrarchid]

Long-term Plan

Combine use of fencing, electrified cheapest and a dog that is half again as large as largest coyote. Fence will not stop coyote but will can contain your dog and exlude future dogs not belonging to you. Dog will keep out the coyotes and all other manner of wild predators. You will have to make certain or ensure dog used is chicken friendly which is doable.


If electrified poultry netting used, then you may be able to forego use of dog.

 

[forgetful]

Long-term Plan

Combine use of fencing, electrified cheapest and a dog that is half again as large as largest coyote.  Fence will not stop coyote but will can contain your dog and future dogs not belonging to you.  Dog will keep out the coyotes and all other manner of wild predators.  You will have to make certain or ensure dog used is chicken friendly which is doable.

I was just about to say that fencing won't keep a coyote out. Good catch. If you get livestock guardian dogs, they definitely aren't pets. They have a job and have to bond to the flock, not you. That doesn't mean you have to treat them like poop, just no hugs or scratches, which I always found too hard for myself.

I do have to say though, I can hardly keep a beagle in a full chain link fence enclosure with a roof, so you'll have to be sure your dog won't try to jump the fence or dig under it.

 

[joannefiddler]

When I lived in south GA and had chickens and goats I lost half my flock to roaming Rottweilers. We got a young Great Pyrenees who was only about half grown and the moment she was on the property we had NO MORE problems with predators. They are wonderful dogs and perform a great service. Only cons are that they dig humungous holes/caves where they live during the heat of the day and as they view other dogs as potential threats to THEIR flock they may be aggressive to other dogs you might have.