Coyotes and Backyard Poultry or Livestock

This is general information, not veterinary, medical or legal advice. For an injured or aggressive animal, a bite, a pet attack or a suspected rabies exposure, call your doctor, your vet, local animal control, or the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD).

Reviewed by the editorial desk against the cited sources. The desk claims no wildlife-biology, veterinary or medical credential; see our editorial policy.

Chickens, ducks, rabbits and small livestock are easy prey, and coyotes are one of several predators. This page sets out what University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, UC IPM and USDA APHIS say about protection, and what AZGFD says about the rules. It belongs with our guide to protecting pets and children from coyotes and our yard and home management guide.

Coyotes and poultry: what the sources say

University of Arizona Extension says poultry “will also attract predators and must be protected from raccoons, skunks, coyotes, bobcats, birds of prey, and neighbor’s dogs” (UA Extension, Backyard Poultry). Before starting a flock, it says to be prepared with a predator-proof coop and run and to look into local zoning ordinances and homeowners association rules.

The author of that publication says his flock is shut in each night, the coop area is completely enclosed by poultry wire, and over the years chickens have been killed while free ranging in a fenced yard. That is one person’s experience, but it matches the general advice below.

Another University of Arizona Extension publication says that in some cases coyotes prey heavily on sheep, calves and poultry, and that in urban and suburban areas garbage, pets, hobby animals and pet food can be important food sources (UA Extension, Coyotes).

Fencing and housing

Measure	What the source says	Source
Fence height	At least 5 1/2 feet tall; solid wood, cement block, brick or wire	UA Extension, Coyotes
Net wire fencing	Bottom portion at least 3 1/2 feet tall with squares smaller than 6 inches	UA Extension, Coyotes
Digging	Galvanized wire apron buried at least 4 to 6 inches and extending out 15 to 20 inches, securely attached	UA Extension, Coyotes
Sloping ground	Build the fence higher; buried wire mesh to deter digging	UC IPM
Night	Keep livestock and poultry confined at night; lights above corrals	UC IPM

UA Extension says coyotes are very adept diggers and prefer to dig under fences rather than jump them. AZGFD adds that a 6-foot fence is not reliable protection, because coyotes are skilled jumpers, which is why it advises keeping domestic birds in a sturdy, roofed enclosure (AZGFD, Living with Coyotes, accessed 2026-11-14); see coyote fencing for Arizona yards.

Guard animals and professional help

UC IPM says certain breeds of guard dogs, as well as llamas and donkeys, may effectively exclude coyotes from pastures (UC IPM). USDA APHIS says producers using an integrated predator management program, with nonlethal and lethal techniques, are most effective at reducing losses, and recommends consulting the Wildlife Services office in your state: 1-866-4USDA-WS (1-866-487-3297) (USDA APHIS).

Roofed enclosures and what attracts coyotes to a coop

AZGFD’s advice for chickens, ducks and turkeys is a sturdy, roofed enclosure. Its list of coyote attractants includes rabbits, birds, rodents, livestock, pet food, unattended pets, garbage and fallen fruit, plus water (pet bowls, fountains, pools) and shelter (dense low shrubs, storm drains, space under sheds or porches). It also says not to spread seed on the ground outside, because seed attracts the rodents and birds that in turn attract coyotes. Its prevention list adds trimming ground-level shrubs, using motion-activated lights, sprinklers or noise devices, and working with neighbors (AZGFD, Living with Coyotes, accessed 2026-11-14).

Do not make your property a food source

UA Extension says pets should be fed and watered indoors, garbage lids secured, ripe fruit covered or enclosed, and windfall fruit picked up daily. It says food should never intentionally be left out for wild animals except birds. No source we opened addresses poultry feed specifically, so ask your extension office about feed storage.

What the rules say (confirm with AZGFD)

Checked on 2026-11-14. This is a summary of what the sources say, not legal advice.

• AZGFD says that for a coyote that has attacked people or shows aggressive behavior toward them, lethal removal by the department is a last resort, and that it does not provide nuisance-wildlife removal or capture for residents (AZGFD, April 7, 2023). It also says some cities and counties have their own ordinances, so check local rules.
• University of Arizona Extension says it is legal to hunt coyotes provided the hunter is licensed and follows current AZGFD hunting regulations.
• AZGFD says it does not respond to calls to relocate or remove coyotes unless they are a public safety concern; for relocation it points to a licensed wildlife-removal business (AZGFD).
• Feeding wildlife other than birds and tree squirrels is unlawful in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima counties under A.R.S. 13-2927 (AZGFD, April 7, 2023), so do not leave out feed, pet food or scraps that draw coyotes.
• We have not found allowed-source text on special exceptions for livestock owners; ask AZGFD. A.R.S. 13-2927’s feeding ban lists normal agricultural or livestock operations among its exceptions (A.R.S. 13-2927).

We do not give trapping, poison or shooting instructions. Poison and traps can harm pets and other wildlife, and what is lawful depends on licenses and local ordinances. Confirm with AZGFD, and see Arizona coyote rules for residents.

If a coyote is near your animals

• Do not approach a coyote that is near a coop or pen.
• If you are close to a coyote, AZGFD’s hazing-type steps are to make noise and act large; do not do so if it appears sick, cornered or protecting pups. See what to do if you see a coyote.
• If a coyote has lost its fear of people or acts aggressively, call AZGFD (after hours and weekends 623-236-7201) or local animal control. If it is approaching or has bitten a person, call 911 and seek medical care.
• If you or a pet are bitten or scratched, call your doctor or vet and animal control.

What we could not source

We found no allowed-source Arizona figures on how many poultry losses are due to coyotes, no AZGFD statement on livestock-owner exceptions, and no extension text on coyote-proof design beyond the fencing details above. UC IPM is a California source; we use it for general predator-exclusion practice only.