O.k. so let me get this straight. A male jack--- "donkey" guards a flock of chickens from coyotes? What the heck? I have never heard of this. Do they bother the chickens and do they rid all the predators? Is this a common knowledge thing? do all farmers know this? I am such a city girl. If I move to the country, would this be a wise decision, to get a jack? Now I know that a dog would guard a flock, but what other animals do this also. How the heck do they catch the coyotes? I think a jack would be so slow.
Quote:A jack is fast and a very good way to protect sheep and goats, IF they think the sheep and goats are part of the herd. They stomp the coyotes to death. Sometimes guard donkeys don't recognize brand new lambs and kids as part of the herd and can kill them, though.
I prefer dogs over equines for protection over a flock. That's just personal opinion, but they are better for a wide range of predators, and not just coyotes. Coyotes are only one out of many, many predators we have out here in the country.
Donkeys are very fast, and relentless when it comes to defending themselves/their "herd" whatever that "herd" may be. I could share a very interesting story about an old neighbor of my grandfathers, the nieghbors Jack donkey and ANOTHER neighbors bothersome german shepherd, but I think you can get the basic Idea
Donkeys just naturally hate varmits. This can include dogs, coyotes, raccoons.......anything. I had 2 jacks with a herd of cattle I once had. The barn had it's resident half wild game type chickens. The jacks stomped the chicks to death. I don't think a donkey would make a good chicken protector for you. If you want to learn, then go to the predator section and read it........ALL. I have a mule and she will chase deer away. She can't stand them. The horses will graze peacefully with the deer, but the mule will run them clean out of sight. Go figure.
I do not know about protecting chickens. I got our first minature donkey" Maggie" to put w/ the cows because coyotes had killed 2 calves. I had also counted 27 on the ridge one evening. It worked!! We do not see any coyotes around at all. Now we also put donkeys in w/ the goats and horses. We do remove the mothers when time to give birth, because till they accept the babies as part of the herd they might kill them. We lost some once. They have killed 2 large dogs( Rot & Pit Bull) that were in thier pasture. They are use to our dogs and don't seem to mind them. They are great pets too!! Like dogs w/ hooves!!!
