Homesteading: How do you keep coyotes from eating your chickens?
I live in a city and I was talking to one of my rural friends complaining about trying to keep coyotes away from their chickens. But, wouldn't a fence do the trick? I didn't want to sound stupid because obviously it isn't as simple as that, but it is really that complicated? If anyone can tell me more about this situation and its potential solutions, I would be very grateful!
Answers ( 1 )
You will need an eight-foot high fence, with either a top fence (like heavy camoflauge netting) or roller bars on top.
Coyotes are among the most clever and well-designed predators in urban or rural areas. They hunt in small packs and separately; they know how to hide, flush and chase; and they aren't afraid of much- including humans. I have personally seen them jump a six-foot tile wall- they simply lept up, and stood on the top tiles for awhile to see if the puppies were in the little side yard. At another houise nearby, the owner had pygmy goats in a nice pen- eight-foot fences all around, tree for shade- and damned if those 'yotes didn't half climb the tree, then use it for an easy leap over the fence. What they didn't realize, though, was two small, generally feral donkeys also shared the pen, and donkeys can stomp the living crap out of coyotes. The neighbor said there was fur around, and a small blood trail that ended a couple feet before the fence, leadig her to speculate the coyote made it back out with some injuries.
Down here. you can get roller bars- like loooong metal or PVC lengths that are attached to the top of the fence so that they can roll; when any animal jumping that fence naturally puts a paw on the top to give a bit of ooomph to finish the leap, the paw rolls on off, and the animal is scrambling on a suddenly moving bar rolling backwards, and so the creature falls off. It is an elegant and simple solution to coyotes' love of chicken- and other small creatures.
Likely pricey, but gives you an idea of what you are looking for; there are also many DIY websites out there for coyote roller bars: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVrrRGltqTc