goat protection

[key west chick]

So we are looking for some land. Right now I have 5 Nigi's in 12 , 6 foot high dog panels, forming a rectangle. The land we are looking at, has coyotes in the area. If we got this, what is the best way to keep coyotes out. How high and what kind of fencing would it take? We're talking about 2 acres. Ive though of LGD but Im afraid since the pasture is close to the only neighbors, the barking at night would irritate them and I would find a dead dog one day. Ive thought about a llama or a mini donkey also. What would my best option be?

 

[Peaches Lee]

I vote for the donkey.

 

[StormyMoon]

Wouldn't being in the country mean they are use to barking dogs ?

Out here where I live everyone has dogs coyotes still come close and some times walk the fence lines but dogs all sound off and scare them off.
It kind of comes with the territory.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Llamas and alpacas are pretty good at protecting a herd as well. They get along well with goats as long as they are used to being around goats.

If you went with an LGD, you probably wouldn't have to put up with constant barking. Our dog barks only when there is something to bark about and they would certainly keep the coyotes away.

 

[Brindlebtch]

Get more than one dog of any kind. Coyotes will kill a single dog.

 

[weimarmama]

We have all of our goats in 5 foot fencing with strands of electric fencing at the top & bottom & barbed wire at the top. And we just added a donkey (named Myrtle) to our herd two weeks ago. She's done very well with the goats so far & seems to like them a little now. The goats seem to like her, too; I think they think she's just a really big, loud goat

Myrtle likes everything to be kind of quiet at night so if she hears anything (like if we go outside after dark or if our neighbors' dogs come onto our land) at all she starts braying very loudly so donkeys are a little louder than what I ever thought they were. She notices everything & her ears are constantly moving listening for anything unusual especially when she's grazing. We're very happy with her & she's been doing a good job. And donkeys are very easy keepers, much easier than a horse. She was pretty shy with us when we first got her, but now she's the first one waiting at the gate every morning for me to put breakfast out & she's learned to love being brushed. To tell the truth I'm kind of wanting another donkey, now.

We're planning on putting up fencing all the way around our 6 acres so nothing or no one can come onto our land & I can't wait for that, but I'm not sure when we'll get around to it.

 

[lockedhearts]

A friend of mine has horses on several acres, he has a Donkey, he has still lost foals to coyotes. The Donkey can only do so much honestly. So even with protection from a Dog, Donkey etc, I would have as predator as proof a fence as possible too. If you can swing it, they have a climb proof horse fencing that is great, sturdy and add some electric, and a donkey/dog it should offer good protection.

 

[chickenzoo]

2 acres is not a huge area, so a donkey or a LGD should be able to fend off that area. I have llamas, emu, mini donkey and LGD's... my dogs and my emu go after a lot of stuff. Never seen my llama or my mini donkey go after anything...... but I guess it's possible.

I'll have some LGD puppies available soon.......

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

I have heard that mini donkeys do not make good livestock protectors. I think the standard ones are better for that job.

 

[Celtic Hill]

Mini donkeys aren't suggested as protectors you should go with a standard.

(now to call the kettle black) since we have had our two mini donkeys we have never had any problems with any cyotes and our chickens.