Predators everywhere!

[Ruralhideaway]

I Know, Right!?
Have often called him my curly chocolate lambdog.
Tho that's a meat sheep, so hair instead of wool.
They had great fun running around together!
It was cool to experience, a bottle lamb so stuck to me like glue,
but I was just as glad when LambyRam went back home after 5 days,
and will be just as glad when he graces my dinner plate in the fall.

I used to have goats and they were fun to have around. They free ranged and were very bonded to the horses, not real hands on with people. I used to have to drag them off horse trailers because they lost their minds when horses were going anywhere. I miss them but don't miss their weird health issues. Nor their prediliction for tromping through gardens. Although they didn't destroy things, ate some rose leaves but never stripped plants here.

Enjoy the lamb, nice to eat things you know were given a good life.

 

[BirdGal]

I have heard most people have good luck with some kind of red predator lights. I can't remember the company but remember they were pricey. Even taking some of those cheap solar lawn lights and putting them together in tight pair's as so they look like eyes will help deter some pests, But you have to keep moving them around so they think they are an animal patrolling. Worked good on deer for awhile if I moved them every couple days one winter when I was without a LGD.
Amazingly the LGD do not eat lots like you would expect once they mature. Mine always ate about the same amount of premium food as a stock dog would .Yes, there are expensive dogs out there. But also rescues free to approved homes or for adoption fee. Just keep watch as sometimes someone sells their livestock or farm and need to rehome the dog. Over the years I have had lots of rescued adult LGD and all but one were excellent guards . Think I paid adoption fee on one cuz it was delivered several hundred miles and rest were free. Had been on list for awhile last year wanting more and none available so finally had to buy pups. Haven't done much with them other than good feed and keeping them safe until mature enough to understand that coyote are dangerous. Turned them out of pen and so far they just took over guarding my farmstead and now moving further out now that they are more confident. They are socialized,leashbroke,can handle them as needed to trim claws,trips to vet, mostly tried to ignore them as so they are guards instead of pets. But they are pet guards which isn't a problem. Nobody walks into my property unannounced and so far haven't had any predator losses since I turned pups lose. So much instinct in LGD breeds that it's amazing .
Weasels here chew thru double hardware cloth. Years ago they came up and decided to depopulate my rabbits,ducks,and,chickens. Haven't had any losses since I started having LGD's. When I lost my first one to old age. Took the coyotes just 3 days to move into my sheep. Then had problems until I got more Pyrs. I can't be without LGD's as they are definitely worth more than their feed bill. They are noisy at night which may be a problem if neighbors are close. But you get to learn what they sound like if they need help so usually just tune them out. Hope you get some sleep soon as too many predators in your neighborhood !

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I have heard most people have good luck with some kind of red predator lights. I can't remember the company but remember they were pricey. Even taking some of those cheap solar lawn lights and putting them together in tight pair's as so they look like eyes will help deter some pests, But you have to keep moving them around so they think they are an animal patrolling. Worked good on deer for awhile if I moved them every couple days one winter when I was without a LGD.
Amazingly the LGD do not eat lots like you would expect once they mature. Mine always ate about the same amount of premium food as a stock dog would .Yes, there are expensive dogs out there. But also rescues free to approved homes or for adoption fee. Just keep watch as sometimes someone sells their livestock or farm and need to rehome the dog. Over the years I have had lots of rescued adult LGD and all but one were excellent guards . Think I paid adoption fee on one cuz it was delivered several hundred miles and rest were free. Had been on list for awhile last year wanting more and none available so finally had to buy pups. Haven't done much with them other than good feed and keeping them safe until mature enough to understand that coyote are dangerous. Turned them out of pen and so far they just took over guarding my farmstead and now moving further out now that they are more confident. They are socialized,leashbroke,can handle them as needed to trim claws,trips to vet, mostly tried to ignore them as so they are guards instead of pets. But they are pet guards which isn't a problem. Nobody walks into my property unannounced and so far haven't had any predator losses since I turned pups lose. So much instinct in LGD breeds that it's amazing .
Weasels here chew thru double hardware cloth. Years ago they came up and decided to depopulate my rabbits,ducks,and,chickens. Haven't had any losses since I started having LGD's. When I lost my first one to old age. Took the coyotes just 3 days to move into my sheep. Then had problems until I got more Pyrs. I can't be without LGD's as they are definitely worth more than their feed bill. They are noisy at night which may be a problem if neighbors are close. But you get to learn what they sound like if they need help so usually just tune them out. Hope you get some sleep soon as too many predators in your neighborhood !

Thanks again for all the info, I'm looking around. Lots to learn about LGD. Very interesting dogs. Learning why herding breeds aren't ideal alone was good reading.

Everyone's still safe so far. I've been walking the perimeter of the yard at night with my daughter's more aggressive Jack(usually fenced) and he's marking and a bit barky so could be helping a little for now.

 

[aart]

Weasels here chew thru double hardware cloth

Really?!
Got pics of HC damage?
I would be fascinated to see it.

Where in this world are you located?
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!

 

[jthornton]

If you're gonna spend money on trapping coons, the dog proof traps might be a better way to go. A big coon can tear up those havaheart traps unless they are heavy duty.

I went to check my havaheart trap yesterday and something had bent the locking wire from the outside I assume to get the trap open. Never seen that before.

JT

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I went to check my havaheart trap yesterday and something had bent the locking wire from the outside I assume to get the trap open. Never seen that before.

JT

They're getting bigger!

 

[aart]

I went to check my havaheart trap yesterday and something had bent the locking wire from the outside I assume to get the trap open. Never seen that before.

Damn! So much for 'good old stuff'!

 

[jthornton]

Damn! So much for 'good old stuff'!

I just bent it back into shape and caught the bad boy last night. He was a big ole coon for sure.

JT

 

[jthornton]

If you're gonna spend money on trapping coons, the dog proof traps might be a better way to go. A big coon can tear up those havaheart traps unless they are heavy duty.

I can confirm that the Havaheart traps sold today have much smaller line wire than my old one. The old one the line wires are 0.107" and a new one is 0.079". They are build a bit different and have a different looking latch.

JT

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I can confirm that the Havaheart traps sold today have much smaller line wire than my old one. The old one the line wires are 0.107" and a new one is 0.079". They are build a bit different and have a different looking latch.

JT

Can't imagine the critters shrank over the years.