F'ing coyotes

[megalomaniac]

Cutting the clover on my 8ac plot, pushed 2 dogs out from the middle. Found what they were on. Freshly killed hen from the morning, 9 eggs (3 broken). No embryos, all yolk, so she started setting within past 5 to 7 days.

We've called in and killed 7 so far this year, but for whatever reason these 2 dogs have been on cameras for 3 months and they won't come to a call. Time for some leghold traps.

 

[Hymie3]

I hate coyotes with a passion. They've killed several of my chickens and fawns last few years. When they get educated to you they are hard to kill.

 

[Carlos]

You may want to hang a gun rack on your tractor.

 

[Iglow]

Well, they left you 2 fly down wings and 2 bones for calls. Yes, trap'em, gut shoot them with a 22, anything is fine as long as they are dead.

 

[Gravey]

I know it's nature but I hate em. Kill em all.

 

[megalomaniac]

Well, they left you 2 fly down wings and 2 bones for calls. Yes, trap'em, gut shoot them with a 22, anything is fine as long as they are dead.

We salvaged one set of wingbones, the other side was too chewed up.

6 good eggs in the incubator. I'm figuring they will be working the cut field early tomorrow morn.... gonna have a surprise waiting for them.

 

[Carlos]

We salvaged one set of wingbones, the other side was too chewed up.

6 good eggs in the incubator. I'm figuring they will be working the cut field early tomorrow morn.... gonna have a surprise waiting for them.

I hope you're able to bag them both with one shot!

 

[Stlbaseball1]

So what is the timeframe in the incubator and what will you do with them? I'm just curious/intrigued. I do realize if you wouldn't have gotten them there is a 100% chance they would've been destroyed.

 

[megalomaniac]

So what is the timeframe in the incubator and what will you do with them? I'm just curious/intrigued. I do realize if you wouldn't have gotten them there is a 100% chance they would've been destroyed.

28 days at 99.7 deg and 45% humidity.

Don't know exactly when she started setting, so will give them 4 or 5 days in the incubator and candle them. I can tell based on embryonic development how many days they are into the 28d process. If I don't see development, I'll give them another 4 or 5 days and re candle them. If no development, they will be discarded, as the eggs were cooled too long from the time the coyotes killed the hen till we found them.

If they hatch, i will imprint them to become their mother. After they imprint on me, I can take them anywhere in the yard as poults to forage and explore. If they wander to far, a simple assembly call will bring them right back to my feet.

Once they are old enough, I'll just let them free range on this suburban farm. I'm sure most will get run over on the roads or eaten by predators, but at least they got a chance to live.

I've done this before, and it's a wonderful experience.

 

[Stlbaseball1]

Thanks for sharing! Your knowledge of turkeys is very impressive.

 

[megalomaniac]

First one just hatched.

That would put setting at end of April, nest initiation mid April, and first breeding around April 7th. Right on time for my properties. One egg got pitched 10d ago as a quitter, still expecting 4 more to hatch in the next 24h

 

[mr.big]

My youngest son killed 2 off the front porch yesterday morning

 

[Carlos]

My youngest son killed 2 off the front porch yesterday morning

View attachment 229243

Tell him we said GREAT JOB!!