Goat buck as predator repellent...

[Kadjain]

I just thought I would put this up for anyone seeking drastic measures to keep predators away.
While my neighbors lose chickens all the time to coons, skunks and bobcats, I have never lost a chicken to any predator other than hawks and I never lock up my birds at night (and the hawks have only got my young chicks). One neighbor lost her whole flock to a bobcat that lives near. I have dogs but my neighbors all have dogs too so I don't think they are the repelling factor. I am the only one on my road who has goats and I have 2 bucks with horns. The bucks carry a very strong musky smell and can also be aggressive towards anyone new in their yard. I imagine that the smell of the bucks and their interest in anything or anyone new in their yard is making any smaller predator think twice before entering the yard with them in it. I can't think of any other reason why my neighbors would lose birds all the time and I have never had a problem.

 

[Kadjain]

Sorry, I don't know why that posted 3 times...

 

[KHAKI COOK]

in ireland we have foxes as our top predator.iv lost scores of birds 2 the sly red dog. i have a buck in yhe adjoining field and he hasnt detered ms fox and her young feasting on my flock..maybe i should turn him 2 the hen house at nite.to stand guard,

guinie fowl are suposed 2 be great early warning system against predators altho they aint gona protect ur birds.

 

[Wise Woman]

I keep my chickens in with my 4 Nigerian Dwarf goats and I have never lost a chicken either. I don't lock their coop up and night and in fact about half of them sleep with the goats. We have coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, hawks and snakes, but for some reason they all stay away. I don't have any bucks, but I do bring one up when I need to breed, so perhaps the scent stays around. I don't know. But I do know that the there is something about having the goats with the chickens that works for us. Plus they love each other. The chickens peck the alfalfa off the goats heads and eat the flies and the goats let the chickens sleep on their backs. It is so funny to watch them interact.