Guardian Llamas, Donkeys?

[PeepsInc]

Honestly, I think a llama would run the other direction. I take care of a small herd of 5. They keep 50 sheep with them in the summer. I don't see where their very defensive. They don't even hang out with the sheep. I've seen coyote circle the field & the llamas are no where to be found. The worst they do is burp & spit. Maybe I just haven't seen that side of them yet. I think you'd be better off raising an Emu to protect the flock. Or get a dog.

 

[NellaBean]

the barn I keep my horse at has a small herd of mini donkeys. One year a pack of dogs killed all the babies.....last year a pack of dogs killed a mini horse in a field with a standard donkey. I can't imagine minis would be much use due to their size, to any determined predator. I would go with mammoth.....

 

[Anianna]

Quote:
I have no personal experience with it, but this book says that llamas are only protective of a herd when there are not other llamas in the herd and not all llamas are naturally protective.

I knew a couple with emu once and those birds were mean! I don't think I can handle emu.

 

[ksalvagno]

You do have to be careful that you actually get a guard llama. Like I said, my llama killed an adult dog. When I had 2 llamas, they worked as a team. But they are actual guard llamas.

Many years ago I got 2 llamas that were supposed to be guard llamas. They weren't. They were the first ones to run away. I later learned the hard way that the person who sold them to me saw a newbie sucker coming and just wanted to get rid of a couple young males.

There is no way any type of single guard animal can protect against a pack of dogs or coyotes. Not even a single LGD could do that.

 

[chixie]

we have a donkey and he is no longer trusted with my goats. he has killed several of my goats in the past. he broke thru the fence to the goat pen and broke their necks. I have had to change the type of fence I use now. I am sure not all donkeys are that way. He was raised with my goats.