| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| DandeeRose |
Posted - Nov 11 2015 : 07:57:19 AM
hello friend! Right now I am just full of all kinds of questions. So what I'm wondering now is who has livestock guardian? And what kind of a guardian do you have? There seems to be so many options. Donkeys alpacas.and of course dogs. So I don't know what the best animal is. I'm wondering if we put some sort of a chicken tractor out at the new farm that were trying to get that is never had chickens out there what we can do to protect them and I'm not feeling like a dog is the best idea. The only reason I say that is because we are not going to be there all the time. Probably once twice a week. I feel like something that could be in the pasture would be happier. It just seems really strange to me to leave a dog out in the pasture for a week and not really concern yourself over it. Even with a big feeder it just feels really strange to me. So I'm wondering what kind of options are out there because I know there are definitely coyotes and raccoons and weasels and things like that in the area. Any help or experience would be greatly appreciated!
Many Blessings- Alicia #5232
http://themostlycrunchyfarmgirl.wordpress.com
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Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain." |
| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| YakLady |
Posted - Dec 29 2015 : 11:46:41 PM
We use Livestock Guardian Dogs. We have large, extensive predators (bear, wolf, cougar), and the dogs work smashingly. If you have more than the odd lone coyote, you should really consider the logic of guarding prey animals with more prey animals. The difference with the dogs is that they speak the language. Predators understand that my dogs are in this territory and that any of my animals here are MORE work than any others in a square mile. That is how we prevent loss.
However, using an LGD with poultry, you need to supervise the pup and train it to poultry. Once they are about 2 years old, and proven trustworthy, you'll see that these dogs are truly worth their weight in gold.
~Hen 4316~ Just a farmgirl in Western Montana.
Starting a family and raising up a small ranch using natural resources.
www.PracticalFarmgirl.com |
| ceejay48 |
Posted - Dec 20 2015 : 7:23:46 PM
We know several folks who have llamas for livestock protection, especially for sheep and goats. They say it works well. We, personally, have no experience with it.
CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665.
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| DandeeRose |
Posted - Nov 14 2015 : 05:27:36 AM
That is really awesome!!
Many Blessings- Alicia #5232
http://themostlycrunchyfarmgirl.wordpress.com
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DandeeRose Farmgirl Accessories and more!
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain." |
| oldbittyhen |
Posted - Nov 13 2015 : 2:53:14 PM
Alicia, I have pure anatolians, and they do their job, and live with the livestock, not really caring for human company...several years ago , some breeders brought to Kenya, some 3-6 month old pups, to be raised out in the bush with goats ( their flocks were being attacked and eaten by cheetas0, when the pups wre around a year old, they started bringing the flocks out to graze with the shepards, within 3 months the dogs were bringing the flocks out by themselves, and bringing them back by them selves, and not 1 loss to the cheetas...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
| DandeeRose |
Posted - Nov 12 2015 : 12:46:57 PM
I will Catherine! Thanks so much!
Many Blessings- Alicia #5232
http://themostlycrunchyfarmgirl.wordpress.com
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DandeeRose Farmgirl Accessories and more!
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain." |
| cajungal |
Posted - Nov 12 2015 : 07:14:28 AM
Be assured that you are not abusing or neglecting the dog by letting it live in the pasture with the other animals. If you do a bit of research, you'll find that the history of these dogs runs long and throughout centuries they have imprinted on their livestock and lived with them.
As I mentioned before, the personality of these dogs is naturally not real 'human pleasing'. They just don't have that innate need to please or bond with a human. That's not to say or even imply that they are mean dogs or unfriendly. They're just 'standoff-ish'. I had more of a problem with the lack of affection than the dog did. lol
If you get a puppy, you'll need to watch that it doesn't mouth/play with the smaller animals and it will be over a year before you have any actual protection. That's why I opted for an older dog. I was concerned that perhaps the older dog wouldn't imprint on my animals. But, it worked out perfectly. I did kennel the dog in the pasture area so that it would get the smells and learn the animals. LGD's are natural roamers, so I wanted to make sure the dog would imprint on our property and roam back home. They also bark a lot. I mean A LOT! That's how they tell the predators to stay away. They are announcing that this is their territory.
Keep us posted on what you decide.
Catherine
Sister #76 (2005)
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt.
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| sherone_13 |
Posted - Nov 12 2015 : 07:13:51 AM
For our chickens, we have Cooper. He is a Blue Heeler/Aussie and is very enthusiastic about his job of protecting the homestead. For the sheep, we have Snickers. She is a llama and is very protective, unless you have apple treats. She would sell her mother for an apple treat. We have not had any coyote problems since Snickers came to the ranch.
Sherone
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| DandeeRose |
Posted - Nov 12 2015 : 06:45:50 AM
Thanks Catherine! That is great information! I worry about leaving a dog, but it sounds like a dog is pretty well the only LG that will do after small predators, too, like coons and weasels. So I suppose I need to get over my fear of leaving a dog to pasture....lol!
Many Blessings- Alicia #5232
http://themostlycrunchyfarmgirl.wordpress.com
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DandeeRose Farmgirl Accessories and more!
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain." |
| cajungal |
Posted - Nov 12 2015 : 05:51:30 AM
The chicken tractor can certainly work if you have a large waterer and feeder. I've used short tractors in the past, but, now I use dog kennels that I attach wheels to. It's just more comfortable for me to be able to walk in a door instead of bending over and lifting a top. Plus, it gives the chickens a bit more room to jump around. I've installed poles, so they can roost at night, too.
The coyotes around me were awful...they'd chew through the bottom of the rabbit cages to get to my rabbits, they'd get my goats, chickens, turkeys, etc... Electric fencing didn't even help. I got a Livestock Guardian Dog and have not had one problem since she got here. She's 1/2 Anatolian and 1/2 Great Pyrenees. I opted for an older dog (she was a little over a year when I got her) rather than a puppy. She lives with all the animals and is always on watch. The coyotes don't even approach our property anymore.
Even though you go to the farm a couple days a week, I think you could still have a dog. You could set up a large self-feeder for the dog. Plus, when trained properly, the LGD doesn't really seek your company, so you don't have to feel bad about leaving it out in the pasture. That's what they were bred for and what their instincts are for. It took a lot of getting used to for me. My LGD pretty much ignores me. It kinda hurt my feelings at first. I like my other dogs that look at me with wagging tails like I'm the queen of the world. My LGD could not care less about me. But, she does her job.
I've never had a donkey, but I've heard great stories about them.
Catherine
Sister #76 (2005)
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt.
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| DandeeRose |
Posted - Nov 11 2015 : 10:42:26 AM
it's definitely something to look into. Although Isabelle has one of the donkey for forever.
Many Blessings- Alicia #5232
http://themostlycrunchyfarmgirl.wordpress.com
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DandeeRose Farmgirl Accessories and more!
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain." |
| hudsonsinaf |
Posted - Nov 11 2015 : 10:35:26 AM
I know we plan to have alpacas. They are great for protecting, as well as for wool. Two for one is a winner in our book ;) I'll be interested in seeing what you guys decide and learning from your experience :)
~ Shannon
http://hudson-everydayblessings.blogspot.com/ |
| DandeeRose |
Posted - Nov 11 2015 : 09:18:49 AM
Yes I know. I am actually refering to meat chickens in a chicken tractor with a waterer and atta hed enclosure. Thanks for pointing it out.
Many Blessings- Alicia #5232
http://themostlycrunchyfarmgirl.wordpress.com
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DandeeRose Farmgirl Accessories and more!
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain." |
| ClaireSky |
Posted - Nov 11 2015 : 08:59:24 AM
Chickens usually need to be checked twice a day due to the fact that they need fresh water and feed, eggs to be picked, and to be let out of the chicken coop for fresh air and be put back in at night....
Julie 
Farmgirl #399
May 2010 Farmgirl of the Month
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat a dog ... Charles F. Doran |
