Guard animals

[cchicks4]

Yesterday mid day while i was home with my dogs, a coy-wolf walked through our yard down the driveway and killed four of my birds. Including my two beautiful roosters. I came outside to give them watermelon and interrupted it. I was so upset. We are now thinking of getting a guard animal for our property however we do not have much of a pasturing area (only about an acre) as it is mainly forest. What are your ideas? We have ruled out that we don't want a dog as we have two dogs already as pets indoors. They somehow missed it yesterday but when the coywolf came back at night they woke us up. We have put a lot of time and effort into our chickens and ducks and do not want to see them keep being killed off.
Can a donkey or llama live in a forested area?

 

[lazy gardener]

What about putting up electric fencing?

 

[HuskerHens18]

I've heard llamas will attack and kill coyotes. Farmers here will buy one to put in with their livestock in pastures.

 

[Tesumph]

I know a couple people who have donkeys or llamas to keep away canines. I know both will kill dogs if they feel like it, not sure about a coy-wolf though.

 

[RenegadeSkate3]

Llamas need constant pastures to graze on or it will get stressed! Otherwise if you have enough... the llama should do it, otherwise electric fencing might be great.

 

[cchicks4]

Do you know if donkeys need pasture? We will be putting up an electric fence but we can't dig the fence into the ground as some areas are gravel. We are interested in getting another animal just to scare off anything from the property in general bc of kids and our dogs. Has anyone ever put donkeys with chickens?

 

[sourland]

Donkey or llama might work, but would very likely pose a danger to your dogs.

 

[Chelsa'sChicks]

If you get a donkey it will be fine with chickens. I have 2 horses, chickens and dogs all sharing the same land. All run free. Never once did a horse or dog kill a chicken. The horses peacefully graze right next to the hens and rooster even sharing any spilled grain with the chickens pecking away next to them. Donkeys are similar and I don't see you having an issue. They will figure each other out and see no threat.

 

[lazy gardener]

Please don't get any type of pasture animal unless you get 2, and then don't get any unless you have appropriate pasture and space for those animals. IMO, it would be cruel to keep such an animal in a space too small for it. Many folks get these animals without realizing what a commitment of time, space and money is required to keep them humanely. I don't know how much space you have available, or what your livestock budget is, but think long and hard before committing to an other animal which just might bring more problems than it solves.

 

[cchicks4]

We own lots of land. but only 1-2 acres of pasture thats why I was wondering if they would be okay in the forest on a non-pasture diet for a majority of the year. we are from Canada too so we own a heated barn and have no budget.

Thanks @Chelsa'sChicks thats good to hear they get along so well.