Trapped sheep & Loose coyotes

[captpackrat]

I wondered why I hadn't seen the sheep all afternoon.  It's unlike them to remain in the barn and not at least peek their heads out when they hear my voice.  I finally went out to check on them.  Good thing, since a fence panel being stored in the barn had fallen over, trapping the sheep in the rear of the barn.  They had alfalfa, but couldn't get to water.  I moved the fence panel to where it shouldn't fall again, and the sheep happily went outside, straight to the water buckets.  Poor things.

I was about to go back into the house when I heard a bunch of coyotes howling nearby.  Our fence should keep them out, but I didn't want to take any chances.  I released the dogs and they ran barking towards the fenceline.  I ran inside, grabbed The Judge and loaded it with shotshells.  By the time I got back outside, the coyotes had passed around the property and were heading off into the fields, and before I could get to the fence they were long gone.

Comments

[tiggerfox.livejournal.com]

"Trapped sheep & Loose coyotes" Sounds like a furry porno =P

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

*groans*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Coyotes in a group are more likely in a mating frenzy than thinking about hunting. I'm pretty sure the normal hunting mode for coyotes is just ones or twos. Adult sheep are not at great risk from coyotes in any case. It would be lambs you'd have to worry about. Early for those, no?

What kind of sheep do you guys have? Ours are miniatures and I'm still more worried about stray dogs than about coyotes.

[captpackrat.livejournal.com]

They are Babydoll Southdowns. They're pretty small, maybe 2 or 2-1/2 feet at the top of their head. Our ewe doesn't frighten easily and will usually stand her ground when threatened, but our ram is still young (9 or 10 months old) and bolts at the slightest thing (though he's gotten to where he'll let me scritch his head). Their fleece is extremely thick right now so they look a lot bigger than they really are.

The fence should keep out any coyotes or dogs; it's quite high, the panels are very strong and the openings are small enough to keep in a French Brittany.

In any event, our dogs seem to be a better deterrent to the coyotes than any fence or gun. The two times coyotes have come around, the mere presence of the dogs along the fence was enough to chase them away faster than I could load my revolver.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Same size as our sheep then. There are coyotes here too, but we've never had any problem with them. Loose dogs, on the other hoof, do pose a threat. Human trespassers (kids) can be even worse.