Keeping My Goats Safe at Night

[tiffanyh]

So, I put my small pygmys away everynight, because although I live on a Main Rd, I have 110 acres of land and coyotes near my property.

This has turned into a chore! I know they KNOW to go in a night, but one particular never goes in because she is skiddish and then in turns in to a show every night. They are quick. I have had them for going on 4 years, so this is not just a "she'll com around" sort of things.

So, my thought is that if I line the OUTSIDE of their fence with electric fence and turn it on at night then they will be safe from coyotes!

What do you think??? GOt to keep my girls safe!

Thanks

 

[vicki2x2]

She doesn't go in when it gets dark? Mine are such babies, they don't like to be out when it is dark or raining. On the other hand, I don't lock them in the barn, so maybe that is it. They go in on there own when it gets close to dark.

Have you tried giving them a little grain or other treats to bring them in, then locking them in?

 

[polish15]

That should work. Keep it on all the time to save yourself another chore. It won't hurt anything.

 

[tiffanyh]

Oh yeah---I give em grain! Little brats! Animal crackers, bread, every night is an "adventure" Id think she head in at night too..but she is too skeptical and skiddish.

 

[hazelton farms]

The guy we got our goats from a couple of weeks ago had labs. They would ignore him when he said to go in...feed, treats, etc, but as soon as one of those labs would do one lil 'woof', they would go RUNNING into the pen!!!
Do you have a dog that could gently bark at them by any chance?

stacy

 

[FarmGirl01]

I put mine up every night also. I did have one goat that would not go in with the rest. She was low man and everyone bullied her. I deceided that the barn did not have enough room for all 5 goats to be in at the same time. So I divided up the barn with a hay rack and a few other things. Now the shy one could get away from the others. It worked like a charm. She now has a place to hide and feel secure.

 

[Chirpy]

Farmgirl had a really good thought... could it be that your one goat is the bottom one on the totem pole and she gets picked on in there so that's why she doesn't want to go in?

Can you give her a separate area somehow (divide the stall area with a feeder as suggested?) where she can be by herself if she needs to be?

 

[texaschickmama]

Get a Great Pyrenees that is a livestock guardian dog and leave them all out.

 

[gumpsgirl]

How tall is your fence? Lining the outside of the fence with electric fencing will only work if your fence is high enough that the coyotes can't just hop right over the main fence. I have the 4' high goat panels and those would not keep a coyote out. They work great to keep the goats in, but they are not tall enough to keep coyotes out.