Coyote after our birds.

[oosik]

Growing up there was a sheep herder on up the river. Beyond all his sheep - he kept peacocks. Now there is another noisy bird. My dad was an avid fly fisherman and would go to this guys place and gather up peacock feathers for tying flies. The sheep guy indicated once - we were at his place "enjoying" Rocky Mt Oysters - that the peacocks did a good job of keeping the coyotes at bay.

Drive into his yard - what a raucous cacophony of squawking noise greeted you. Bet he never had problems with burglars either.

Wonder if a sheep herder is anything like a nerf herder? There is a sheep herder about 30 miles south of me, right here. I have never known what to call him - shepherd just doesn't quite fit. He is Basque, comes from Spain, name is Francois - we call him Frank. Last year he had 3200 sheep. He has donkeys and those big white dogs - Great Pyrenees - to keep his sheep safe from coyotes and the occasional cougar.

 

[dmccarty]

My neighbors got some Guineas and let them roam about freely. I believe they got 75 or so. Took maybe 12 to 18 months before they had all been eaten by the owls, hawks, foxes and coyotes.

When we had chickens I built a Chicken Tank to keep out the predators and it worked. The wife saw a hawk hanging on the side of Chicken Tank trying to get to the chickens. The tank worked but we would let the chickens out in what used to be our fenced in garden. The foxes, coyotes, deer and our kids destroyed the fence over time. The chickens started to get out and one or two fed the fox.

Later,
Dan

 

[ovrszd]

No predator chooses to hang out close to humans and would avoid doing so if an alternative easy food source was available.

If we provide easy meals we will have predators.

 

[nybirdman]

I will guarantee that you have a lot more coyotes around than you think.They are not always real vocal.

 

[turnkey4099]

Those were some very educational documentaries :thumbsup: Although last I heard they are banned now do to the nature of the violence :thumbdown:

That might explain it. I used to watch a cartoon show (Boomarang) that had old cartoons with most of the characters. Haven't seen that show on the air in a couple months.

 

[ArlyA]

Yes but no. The biologist in the fine state of MN theorized that there normal population of wolves for there state should be in the 2000 to 2500 realm. They also had vocal preservationist group who claimed they should never have a season on them at all. The population did well, and eventually climbed to something over 3500 and guess what, problems mounted with livestock, dogs and everything else being killed that was left outside by these robust numbers. I can tell you 1st hand that without ever being shot at, they had little fear of people and occasionally roamed through the streets in my spouses home town. Funny feeling to have a 150lb animal sit and look at you, and casually walk away with no fear. We seen so many, it got to the point, we wouldn't go for hike in the woods without a sidearm to protect over our mutts. I'm no gun toting character but they just had so little fear, it made us nervous. (yes I own firearms) Point is, the state eventuality installed a season on them and the problems went far down. Go figure.
.

No predator chooses to hang out close to humans and would avoid doing so if an alternative easy food source was available.

If we provide easy meals we will have predators.

 

[ovrszd]

Yes but no. The biologist in the fine state of MN theorized that there normal population of wolves for there state should be in the 2000 to 2500 realm. They also had vocal preservationist group who claimed they should never have a season on them at all. The population did well, and eventually climbed to something over 3500 and guess what, problems mounted with livestock, dogs and everything else being killed that was left outside by these robust numbers. I can tell you 1st hand that without ever being shot at, they had little fear of people and occasionally roamed through the streets in my spouses home town. Funny feeling to have a 150lb animal sit and look at you, and casually walk away with no fear. We seen so many, it got to the point, we wouldn't go for hike in the woods without a sidearm to protect over our mutts. I'm no gun toting character but they just had so little fear, it made us nervous. (yes I own firearms) Point is, the state eventuality installed a season on them and the problems went far down. Go figure.
.

Yep. Your story completely supports my theory. Easy meals.