donkeys for coyote control??

[Quack Shack]

I can work with that TallTurkey. With the economy in this area, I may luck up with the livestock auction or the trade radio and get one for practically free. There's a equine vet just down the street from me so got that covered. Flies a problem?

 

[AmyRey]

A word of warning...

The grandparents (who've raised beef cows for decades) decided to get a donkey. They didn't have any predator problems that I know of. I think they just thought a donkey would be something different. "Steve" was calm and gentle when he first arrived, but quickly become so aggressive that they had to give the poor fellow away. Perhaps a female donkey would have helped calm his nerves, but he literally bit hunks out of the necks of the younger cows and calves. The cows finally learned that if they stood in the lake, he wouldn't be willing to come into the water after them. He'd stand on the bank and bray at them for hours before finally giving up.

 

[Quack Shack]

'Jenny II' would be a party of one and I'd probably go with a female. Thanks for sharing any insight you may have as I like to do my research then jump in with both feet.

 

[citrusdreams]

Ok, here's what I think about this. When I had to get a livestock guardian, I spent a lot of time researching online and talking to local people.

I was told by more than a few that donkeys and llamas can make great livestock guardians but ONLY if they like the animals they're protecting. If they don't like their "charges", they will not only not protect them, but they may hurt them.

I was also told by more than a few that the donkeys sometimes got aggressive with their owners. So that when the owers would go to do stufff with their charges, the donkeys would come after them. But I'm sure that's a potential problem with any livestock guardian.

That said, I chose a Great Pyranese

she's worth her weight in gold and I'm very pleased with her.

That's not to say that donkeys and llamas aren't good livestock guardians, because they ARE. But you need to get one that will be a good fit with the animals you are trying to protect.

However, I think I should also mention that one donkey, one llama or one LGD is no match for a pack of dogs or coyotes. You will need more than one, whatever you choose, if you have multiple predators. I still like the great pyranese because they work very well as a pair and it's one of their traits: one patrols, one watches. This is what makes them effective when predators like coyotes work together to leur dogs away from home, or livestock guardians away from their charges.

Er, I'm also editing to add: When I spoke to neighbors, the consensus was to get full sized donkeys, not miniature, because those I spoke to lost a few of the mini's to coyotes and dogs.

 

[Quack Shack]

Thanks, Citrusdream. If I didn't already have terriers, I'd consider the dogs but my hands are kinda full with my 2 (one is still a pup). I'm not dealing with coyotes, yet, although there are more sightings in the next county over. My predators have been foxes and hawks so far. But valid point that you'd want an animal larger than the predator and to be able to at least intimidate. The foxes hunt in pairs we've noticed so I think a jenny could at least injure one before the cowardly duo could escape. She'd have to be friendly and kid tolerant so I'll consider that when I do make the move to acquire one. Wonder how braying will go over with my neighbors? Any thoughts on that?

 

[citrusdreams]

A Jenny should be able to handle two foxes. I hardly ever hear donkeys unless "something's up". They really are pretty quiet unless something puts them on alert. If your neighbors are really close, you might just want to ask. Where I live, it's really not necessary to worry about neighbors

 

[Quack Shack]

I'm lucky because one neighbor doesn't handle English well and probably doesn't want any attention and the other are country folks who so far haven't cared about the chickens because they stay in my yard. I'd like to relocate to a more rural area someday so good to know that I should be fine with the noise level. When I left this AM, one of my banta OEGs was announcing himself from atop my kids' playset. Yeah, that's right, tell the neighborhood. Cheeky!