How to Keep Coyotes Away

#1 – Get a Dog

1. they jump
2. they slobber
3. they pant
4. they drool
5. they stink
6. they hump
7. they shed
8. they have to be brushed
9. they have to be bathed
10. they have to be taken outside to do their business
11. they have to have a sitter if you want to leave town
12. they stick their noses in your crotch

Cats, cows and pigs do not have these issues.

So, we got a male dog to keep the coyotes away.  Turns out my kids LOVE having a dog and DH is a happier guy when he has a dog, so it’s a win-win.  I’m out voted.

Coyotes gone – happy family.

We are intentional about having the dog “relieve” himself around where the chickens live, roost and sleep.  We just don’t seem to see any coyotes when we have a male dog.

#2 – Fencing

We are not expert fence builders.  We are not even average fence builders.  We build fences because we can’t afford to don’t want to pay someone else to do it.  And I like to be self-sufficient, so I’m gonna build my own fences.  To see how we do it go here.

To keep pigs in, we always use electric fence.  Sometimes we use woven wire fence.  Sometimes we use temporary construstion fence.  BUT we always add a line or two of electric to keep the pigs in.  Pigs are smart animals.  Our experience is that pigs will respect an electric fence.

Having electric around the pigs not only keeps the pigs in, it probably keeps predators out.  I can’t say this for sure, but I think it doesn’t hurt.  Well, it does hurt – which is why it helps …..  Ha.

#3 – Proximity

Both our pig areas are pretty close to our house.  One is upwind (unfortunately) the other is down wind (Yea!).  They are also close to the garden, the barns, the cows and the chicken coop.  I think having the pigs close to where we generally mill about helps keep the coyotes away.

#4 – Commotion

There really is a constant flow of activity, movement and noise around our pigs (and home in general).  Even if the weather is horrible and the rest of the county is indoors by their fires we HAVE to go outside.  The chickens must be let out and fed.  The pigs must be fed.  The Cows must be milked and fed.  The rabbits must be fed.

In addition to the bustle created a couple times a day when all the chores are done there’s also non-stop motion from the farm inhabitants themselves…..

I’m not sure if you get a clear picture of what our homestead looks like from the blog.  I’ll try to explain it.  From my front porch I can see:

• Somewhere around 10-20 chickens at any time
• Usually a duck or 2 waddling around
• the cows
• the milk barn
• the rabbits
• up to 4 children (there are 4 – but they could be in a barn or the woods)
• and the pigs are right in the middle the commotion