Homestead Chickens and Predators Revisited – Rodent, Fox, Coyote, Raccoon
Welcome to another wonderful Friday, and a leisurely stroll through our archives. With the springtime comes the idea of getting chicks so we’ll have hens for fresh eggs in the late summer. This brings to mind the constant threat of predators against the animals that we raise for food, fun and companionship. Okay, perhaps a [...]
Catching Coyotes by Hand – True Stories
I’ve never thought about catching coyotes, at least not by hand, but my neighbor has. And, he’s done more than think about it – he’s caught them many times – by hand. It seems quite inconceivable, but my neighbor does things that others can’t imagine. You might call him self reliant, as well as inventive [...]
Teamworking Predators – Coyotes
Of all the common predators, the coyote is perhaps the most troublesome. They’re stronger than most, sly, brazen, fast, very wary, and they can hunt in packs so they’re a threat to small animals around the homestead as well as the young of larger animals that would be considered livestock. A coyote is like a [...]
Raccoons – Another Clever Predator
Raccoons look like bandits with those Lone Ranger type masks over their eyes. Don’t let their looks fool you – they’re much more clever than the common bandit you might encounter. One of the incredible characteristics of these animals is their ability to manipulate things with their hands. I say hands rather than paws because [...]
Predators – Problem Solving for Deterrence
Deterrence of predators is largely what you need to do when raising small animals. Barriers are commonly used – walls and fencing being the most popular. Guard dogs and other larger animals can also deter animals that otherwise would prey on your source of “free food.” Years ago when I first had chickens I let [...]
Predators on the Homestead – Use a Shovel When Dealing with Rattlesnakes
Sometimes rattlesnakes can’t be dissuaded or discouraged, and sometimes it isn’t wise to simply relocate them when they come to visit. At times, killing them is the only reasonable thing to do, especially when they pose an immediate threat and you need to deal with that threat decisively. The macho among us would like to [...]
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