Goat coyote concern

[IslaBean]

I know this isn't realated to chickens, but I'm going to be out of town the next three days and I don't have anyone to watch my goats. I have three nigerian dwarfs. One is young, but full grown. The other two are still only 4 months old and are not quite full grown. Each night, I lock them up inside the barn before dark because we have coyotes out where we live. I heard them howling the other night outside my house. I don't know what to do while I'm gone. I don't want to lock my goats up inside the barn for three whold days while I'm gone. It's really dark and depressing when all the doors are closed. However, there is definitly ample enough space for them if I were to lock them up. But if I did leave the door open leading to their outdoor pen, would there be a problem? I'm not sure if it keeps the coyotes out. It keeps the goats in, but I'm worried that they could easily dig right under, because there are small holes under the fence. I want what is best for my goats. What do you suggest that I do? Thanks! e

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Lock em down, they will forgive you.

Gary

 

[17 chickens]

I would not even take a chance with it, Be safe and close them in. It wouldn't be any different then really being at the fair in their pens...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Coyote will kill a goat in broad daylight too. So if you have coyote where you are at you may want to invest in some sturdy or electric fencing.

I personally don't lock mine up. So far the coyote don't both my goats by my vet tech lost one of hers to coyote during the day.

 

[Folly's place]

Electric fencing is your friend! Meanwhile keep them safe while you are gone.
Develop friends with other livestock, at least so you can trade off 'animal sitting' while you are away from home. Standard 'pet sitters' won't work usually, it takes people with some understanding about farm issues. And the vet's phone number!
Mary

 

[CapricornFarm]

Lock them up. You don't want to come back to dead goats!

 

[Zoomie]

I say lock them up. They will be far safer.

I have never once had a goat killed by coyotes. On the other hand I have had thousands of dollar's worth of livestock killed by dogs. Coyotes do come in to my pens pretty much every single night... I see their footprints... but I keep my goats locked up inside the barn at night. Personally I will not risk my goats to be out all night long, but mostly because so many people are irresponsible with their dogs, and I'm afraid dogs will come. If I were in your same situation the goats would just have to stay in the barn until I got home.

 

[cassie]

I lived in an area where there were lots of coyotes but I never lost any livestock to them. Dogs were a much bigger problem. Coyotes are opportunists. If getting at something is more trouble than it is worth, they won't bother. That said, lock the goats up while you are gone. They will survive and it is better to be safe than sorry. When you get home, you might check into that electrified poultry fencing. It is easy to move and set up and it should keep predators out.

I think coyotes were not a problem for me because of a combination of things. I had LGDs, there was plenty of wildlife for them to catch, and I had good fences.