donkeys for coyote control??

[LaSombra]

I was talking to the lady who owns a feed store near me the other day and somehow, the conversation got to her donkey and how donkeys will attack coyotes or other smaller dogs to protect the "herd." Anyone else hear of this? Might be a way to keep the coyotes from entering the yard when the dogs aren't out, anyway...

 

[TexasVet]

Nearly every cattle rancher around me keeps donkeys with their herd, so it must work.

Kathy, Bellville TX
www.CountryChickens.com

 

[spectrumranch]

Guard llamas work too.

 

[Quack Shack]

I heard that from my dad via his farmer neighbor. He suggested a Jerusalem burro because of my kids and size of my yard. Must be something to it. OP, did they give any idea how much that would cost to setup: initial cost of burro, feed and shelter sufficient enough for the winter?

 

[LaSombra]

Quote:
no, we didn't get into all that... I wasn't really thinking seriously about it until I started really thinking about it. Would have to have a livestock fence up and I'd have to wait for our dogs to be fully grown so they wouldn't get attacked themselves...

I think it's worth looking into, though. A llama is a good idea too! Might be fun

 

[talkturkey]

I've got a guard jenny and she's great at protecting 'her' herd from canine intruders. Adopted her from the Bureau of Land Management. The BLM adopt out wild mustangs and burros every year. However, I've heard that jacks (male vs female) can become very aggressive towards smaller livestock (calves, goats, etc).

 

[Quack Shack]

LaSombra, I just kinda laughed it off with dad yesterday and then we both kinda looked at each other then the back part of my property and starting thinking, hmm, that would take care of a fox issue for certain and well, I also have some area around my fence that could use some grazing. I had been thinking goat but now I'm wondering.

TallTurkey, I'll show my ignorance here but is a jenny a female donkey? I don't have any other livestock so she's be a party of one. Could you give an estimate on how much is involved to keep her up?

Spectrumranch, I remember seeing many llamas on the way to Kokomo, IN, when I lived in the midwest. Was fun to see how many I could count along the way!

 

[LaSombra]

incidently, my name is Jenny

heee haw!

Would a donkey get lonely without any other large livestock around?

I, too, am curious as to what all is involved in owning a donkey.

 

[talkturkey]

Yes, jenny is a female donkey/burro. The annual cost of upkeep would include feed, hoof trimming, and vet/meds and varies depending on circumstances. My jenny came from the BLM and has never been tamed. She runs with the herd, gets wormed with herd, fed with herd, so calculating her individual cost would be hard to do. Anytime she requires individual attention, she requires sedation. IMO believe the 'wild' in her gives her an added edge over domesticated donkeys when it comes to guarding. My border collie also learned to respect her and her distaste for his kind.

 

[chickenwhisperer123]

I have heard this many times, so there must be some truth to it!!

<------- Thats Gonzo, the mini mule, He hee haw's every time somthing comes into the corral.