FergusonK's journal - Goodbye Java Jewel.

babsbag · Nov 13, 2015

That is way too many coyotes to deal with. I hear them all around us daily but seldom see them and usually only one when I do. That would make me so nervous, I would be sleeping with those goats. You need to find some LGDs soon for sure. I hear mine barking as I type...love those dogs.

BlessedWithGoats · Nov 13, 2015

Ferguson K said:
It is terrifying to walk outside after dark without the dogs and a light. With winter approaching and food becoming scarce they've started to move closer to humans again.

Not. Thrilled.

I definitely understand being scared to go outside in the dark when there's coyotes in the area! :hugs

Ferguson K · Nov 14, 2015

I just installed a game camera. I'll check every three days or so. It'll be interesting to see what all is coming up.

We've had some strange paw prints after the rains back there. Wonder if their cat or....?

Last year we shot several coyotes. It felt like they just kept coming. Now I know why.

The thing about it is, that the pack is rarely all together at the same time. They have several miles of territory to cover every night. They also have three or four den sites they move throughout. Its very neat.

I just don't want them near our livestock... Period. Neither does anyone else around here. Coyotes are pretty well shoot on site. If it even LOOKS like a coyote it gets shot.

Baymule · Nov 14, 2015

I hear coyotes howling at night and early mornings here, but since we have put up fencing, they don't come up close. But then we don't have tasty goat or sheep yummies for them either. They used to come up right in the yard. At night we never let out dogs out without us being with them. One night there was one (or more) not 50 feet from the house, it started howling and we hustled the dogs in the house. We have one long stretch of fence to put up to have our place fully enclosed. I know they can jump the fence or dig under if they want, but just having the fence makes me feel better.

I hope you can find LGD's to help with your coyote problem. Instead of 2, maybe you need 6........or 23....... :lol:

That big fruit you mentioned on my feeder pig thread, it is paw paws? Devonviolet and I are looking for seed.

Latestarter · Nov 14, 2015

Good point Baymule... even a pair of LGDs would stand little chance against a concerted attack by 10 or more coyotes. LGDs are very smart also, and I'd hope against that many attackers, they'd stay close to the flock and just try to keep the coyotes off the flock. For coyotes in the numbers mentioned I'd want at least 4 LGDs and me backing them up with a rifle. A shotgun has too wide a pattern to be firing at coyotes fighting in close to my dogs. I'd hate to accidentally hit them. I have a hard time hitting the side of a barn anymore, but I'm deadly on moving targets.

I think with numbers your talking about, I'd either do some dedicated coyote hunting or hire/invite a varmint hunter to come have at it.

Devonviolet · Nov 14, 2015

Baymule said:
I hear coyotes howling at night and early mornings here, but since we have put up fencing, they don't come up close. But then we don't have tasty goat or sheep yummies for them either. They used to come up right in the yard. At night we never let out dogs out without us being with them. One night there was one (or more) not 50 feet from the house, it started howling and we hustled the dogs in the house. We have one long stretch of fence to put up to have our place fully enclosed. I know they can jump the fence or dig under if they want, but just having the fence makes me feel better.

I hope you can find LGD's to help with your coyote problem. Instead of 2, maybe you need 6........or 23.......

That big fruit you mentioned on my feeder pig thread, it is paw paws? Devonviolet and I are looking for seed.

No, it's called Bois d'arc (pronounced bo-dark) or Horse Apples. We can buy PawPaw seeds (2015 crop) on eBay.

Ferguson K · Nov 14, 2015

No ma'am this fruit isn't them. Its almost citrus in style. Tastes like a sweet pepper. Grows on a short tree. My aunt thinks its a l...but. L something. Loquat? But, its pretty big.

As far as the coyotes go... We have three pit mixes on patrol every night. They mostly just bark and let presence be known. The coyotes are why we lock the goats up at night. I want to lock a pair of LGDs with them. Just something to help deter them. The goats nightly pen is fifty yards from the house, at the furthest corner. I can hear them easily. I would just feel better with something with them.

I would eventually like to be able to leave them in the "back 3," with the horses, but until we hunt down some of these coyote that's not happening. The year before last the pack was less than ten in number. Most of these dogs are still, technically I think, pups. They just aren't moving on.

I'm hoping that with the neighbors behind us clear cutting the 200 acres they run cows on it will help drive them out some. Further away, or, run them off. There's no more trees to keep them hidden. We get clear shots now. If given the chance, and I'm awake enough ( these long work hours are killing me ) I plan on sitting out tonight and spot lighting. We will be out with the .22. Don't need anything bigger. They get close enough and I'm a good enough shot to go through the ears. If ya know what I mean.

On a more pleasant note? I moved around a bunch of quail today. I have lots more males than expected. To freezer camp they will go. YUM.

This is what musical quail looked like...

Shoved all banded birds in one pen, banded the youngsters, checked female to male ratios and rotated breeders. "New breeders" were installed. Old, crippled, or deformed are heading to freezer camp tomorrow.

This beautiful juvenile bobwhite has some odd coloration. I believe her to be a hybrid of Tennessee red and northern Bob. They were penned together for a while before separation for breeding. The hen may have retained some sperm.

She's more red than brown. Still young, her colors could change.

The juvies got a new play toy this morning. Real wood perch material. They were a little confused on how it works.