Are Coyotes Attacking your Chickens?

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Lately, I’ve seen a lot of posts about coyotes attacking chickens. Most animals this time of year bed down or hibernate, not leaving the coyote very many options for food. So, the coyotes are becoming bolder and going into our yards after the chickens and other small pets. 

Coyotes are about the size of a medium dog. I always thought they were larger. The male coyote range in weight between 20-50 lbs and females are 15-40 lbs. Their body length from nose to tail is 3 ft to 4 ½ feet. So not really big.

Coyotes are opportunistic hunters and usually won’t work too hard to get to your chickens. Although this time of year if they are hungry, your chickens are easy prey. 

What Do Coyotes Normally Eat 

Coyotes are scavengers. Their diet consists of 90% meat or protein and the other 10% is berries, fruit, grass, and insects. 

They usually feed on smaller animals: 

  • Rats 
  • Rodents
  • Rabbits
  • Lizards
  • Snakes
  • Birds 
  • Chickens 

Occasionally on larger animals, especially if the animal is older or sick: 

  • Deer
  • Sheep
  • Goats
  • Cattle

Coyotes generally attack from the front going for the head and throat. Small prey will be carried off and you may only see traces of blood. Coyote may attack larger animals like goats, sheep, and cattle, biting them on the hindquarters, injuring and causing them to bleed out. If they are unable to carry off their prey, you will probably only find remains of bones and fur. 

Coyotes are nocturnal hunters and try to avoid humans. They run in packs but usually, will hunt in pairs, circling their prey. Their territory could be up to 25 square miles. 

coyote seen more in the city attacking chickens.

Coyotes are normally timid and it’s unusual for a coyote to attack anything larger than itself, like an adult. Although, I wouldn’t leave my child alone outside if I had a coyote problem. If you see a coyote, yell, jump, and wave your arms around. This should scare them off. However, if they are looking for food and know you have chickens, they will probably come back. 

More and more cities are reporting coyotes sightings. We are encroaching on their habitat with new construction and housing developments going up.  They really don’t have many options. 

What Can You Do To Deter Coyotes from Attacking your Chickens 

  • Coyotes have a keen sense of smell so keep your yard clean and pick up leftover feed and scraps. If you have acreage, dispose of any dead animals. 
  • Secure trash 
  • Add Motion Lights
  • Keep a water hose to spray the coyote or set up a sprinkler system to come on in the evenings
  • Clear any brush that could be used as a den 
  • Keep small animals inside between dusk and dawn
  • Predator proof your chicken coop – be sure and check out that blog post. 
  • You need at least a six-foot fence around your coop, and eight or ten would be even better. I know it may not be feasible to have your entire property enclosed, but at least your general yard area.
  • If you have a severe coyote problem, consider getting a Livestock Guardian Dog, donkey or llama. Livestock Guardian dogs (LGD) are specific breeds of dogs raised to protect livestock. They have an extremely low prey drive, meaning once they reach maturity, won’t attack your animals. 

Coyotes may be more aggressive in the spring if they are caring for pups. The breeding season is February and March. Litters can be anywhere from three to twelve pups with an average of six. Both parents will take care of the babies. The first two weeks, the pups primarily get the mother’s milk then after that the dad will hunt and bring the pups regurgitated food. 

How Do you Know If It’s a Coyote 

Coyote prints are similar to dog prints but are more oval and compact. They are around 3” long compared to a large dog at 4”.

coyotes attacking chickens. Howling is a way coyotes communicate with each other.

Of course the howling. Coyotes howl is used as a location device to see where everyone is and also to call the pack back together after they are out hunting. They will also howl to warn other packs that are in their territory.

We have coyotes at our property in Oklahoma. A few weeks ago, we could hear them all around us. Sounding off. Very eerie. The dogs took off at once barking and we could tell pretty quickly that they had pushed them back several miles. Although, I did have the Bearded Rooster follow with his rifle.

Coyote poop is similar to dog poop but more rope-like and will be filled with what they’ve eaten, bones, fur, or feathers. 

If you have coyotes in your area, make sure your pets are up to date on their vaccinations. 

Coyotes carry Distemper, Parvo, and Rabies so it’s important to keep your dogs up to date on vaccinations. They also can spread heartworms, mange, ticks, and fleas. We give Sugar monthly meds for heartworms and fleas and ticks, plus when we are in the country, we use a spray (although probably not necessary).

I know once we move to the country Sugar will keep the coyotes from attacking our chickens. She is already massive weighing about 80 lbs (most LDGs average at least 100lbs). When we play, I’m amazed at how powerful she is. In a few years we will add a second LGD and probably a third so she has back up. 

Coyotes have a place in our ecosystem taking care of small rodents and animals that could become a nuisance. However, when it comes to my flock and pets, they better stay away! Between the Bearded Rooster and Sugar, they don’t stand a chance.  

Published by carol