Coyotes are after my calves! UPDATE

[Pumpkinpup]

This morning we found that my first time momma, Bobbie, had her ear badly mangled due to fighting off coyotes. She has a new baby that is only about a week old and they were after it. She had stashed baby in a brush pile and was very uneasy. She even ran the family lab out of the pasture completely with much ferver. She has never been aggressive toward the dog before so I am positive that she understands that canines are a threat to baby. this is a very good thing but I am most worried that perhaps she can not fend a pack off a second time. I fear they may come back now that they know there is a baby in the pasture. i will just die if anything happens to that little heifer! I looked for a jack today but had no luck. I am still beating the bushes and maybe I will find one very soon

I have other heifers due to calve soon. i need a guardian quickly!

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

Bless her heart for being a good mom. I am thinking maybe get her into a barn or stall if possible, maybe drive a vehicle out in the pasture and try taking cat naps with someone else looking and wait for the varmits..

 

[sonew123]

OH NO!!!! Poor Poor baby!!! Can you lock up the momma and baby somewhere safe until you figure out how to protect them? Gosh I hope it was just a one time thing

 

[Pumpkinpup]

Bobbie is a very good mommy! I am so proud of her, poor thing. She got chewed up pretty bad

I have the boys on critter watch tonight and pray I can find a guardian tomorrow.

 

[remuda1]

My suggestion would be to look for a couple of ADULT livestock guardian dogs that have been working with cows already. If you've got
A pack of coyotes, you'll need more than one dog because part of the pack will distract a lone dog away from the calf and the rest of the pack is free to move in. If you don't have a barn or some kind of safe enclosure for the interim, I'd be sitting up with a gun. Either that or try to locate a local tracker to come and eliminate them. Good luck with it, it's so stressful when something like this is happening.

 

[Pumpkinpup]

Quote:
I don't think a dog is the answer as the cows now see any dog as a threat. I don't think they will accept a canine as a guardian. That is why I am looking for a jack.

 

[artsy1]

wow. that is so horrible, please find a way to lock them up..and shoot those coyotes. They won't give up if they are really hungry.
One dog isn't enough, you need a pack of dogs.
good luck

 

[remuda1]

Quote:
I don't think a dog is the answer as the cows now see any dog as a threat. I don't think they will accept a canine as a guardian. That is why I am looking for a jack.

DOH!!

Good point. Then I would certainly take whatever measures necessary to remove the coyotes from your property. I'm not familiar with cows.... Do you think they might relax about the dogs after a bit or do they have memories like elephants? I've just heard mixed results with Jacks and Llamas and such. There is SUCH peace of mind with the LGDs

 

[Pumpkinpup]

Quote:
I don't think a dog is the answer as the cows now see any dog as a threat. I don't think they will accept a canine as a guardian. That is why I am looking for a jack.

DOH!!

Good point. Then I would certainly take whatever measures necessary to remove the coyotes from your property. I'm not familiar with cows.... Do you think they might relax about the dogs after a bit or do they have memories like elephants? I've just heard mixed results with Jacks and Llamas and such. There is SUCH peace of mind with the LGDs

I agree that LGD's would have been the choice if there were not the fear factor of the cattle. I wish I had done this before baby was born but it's a little late to fret about that now

Cattle will remember and I seriously doubt that they will ever let a canine in the pasture again if they can help it.
I have neighbors with jacks and they have all said good things about them. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will work out well for me also.
I was looking into a LGD for my nubians already but just have not found a grown dog that will fit the bill.

 

[True Grit]

Can you hastily string some electric wire? Would it take a while for a jack or dogs to get up to guarding speed?