- Jul 16, 2010
- 211
- 4
- 99
I would agree. Most of the folks who are successful around here with livestock guardian dogs either have a not-too-susceptible livestock specie (like llamas) or else they keep a PACK of dogs. Most people I know with goats have 5 or 6 dogs.
I'd say you have to either keep the chickens VERY well penned and cooped (electric and top-netting wouldn't be out of the question) or accept the losses. And if a determined predator finds your flock, the losses can be too heavy to bear. I don't free range my chickens all day anymore because of that. They only get a few hours in the evening when I can be relatively close by. Incidentally, they DO usually come into the goose yard while free ranging and I do think they are safer there from small predators. But coyotes are another matter. Thankfully they don't come here in the daytime while I'm out.
I'd say you have to either keep the chickens VERY well penned and cooped (electric and top-netting wouldn't be out of the question) or accept the losses. And if a determined predator finds your flock, the losses can be too heavy to bear. I don't free range my chickens all day anymore because of that. They only get a few hours in the evening when I can be relatively close by. Incidentally, they DO usually come into the goose yard while free ranging and I do think they are safer there from small predators. But coyotes are another matter. Thankfully they don't come here in the daytime while I'm out.
