I also have coyotes(one tried to grab a turkey in broad daylight,it ran off when I yelled at it),and the occasional hunting dog or stray comes through the yard.There was a little grey fox that was hanging out in the yard,he'd drink out of the Lilly pond.My Aunt had lots of shrubs that provided shelter from air borne predators for her chickens,it definetly works.One neighbor that keeps pigeons taught me a neat trick,if you put out food for the crows they will hang around and drive off the hawks,they gang up on the hawk and run them off.He kept losing birds when he would fly them,the crows really cut back his losses,he has the fancy pidgeons.
Lots of people here keep guineas because they are great at ridding a yard of ticks and they are really good watch dogs,they will make lots of noise if they see something strange.Geese are also good for this.I had a really tame gander that liked to be petted and would follow me around the yard,a stray dog caught and killed him,I was so sad about it.
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I am the dust that dances in the light. - Rumi