South Carolina

[WestKnollAmy]

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Yesterday afternoon, after much debate, we decided to close off the sheep into one of the pastures. Our sheep, goats and donkeys have been together for months. They are NOT separated. The dog scared us so we put our most docile donkey in with them to help protect the lamb from the dog. This donkey is with the sheep ALL THE TIME! They pasture together. My husband walked up to the house. I looked out and saw the donkey flying around the pasture. My husband ran as fast as he could out there but was not in time. The donkey had the lamb in his mouth, dropped it, stomped on it and then rolled on it. It happened like so quickly. We were shocked, mad and sad. And of course, regretting our decision. My husband was so mad at that donkey. I sat with the lamb until it died. No saving it. It had blood coming out of its ears, nose and mouth. The poor mama was walking around bleating mournfully. My kids were crying. My husband was chasing and screaming at the donkey. Ugh!

So.... the dog apparently lives... the lamb is dead.... the momma is devastated.... and the donkey is clueless. I have three more ewes that are pregnant so we are trying to figure out what the best course of action is. The predator you don't know or the predator you own? Which is the biggest threat?

I told my husband and my children that farming has a big learning curve and we are smack dab in the middle of it. We will make some bad choices but not on purpose. And we will learn from them. That's all we can do.

At least we've had a bit of rain and it's cooler!

I hate hearing this! So sorry to hear about the baby!

It happens on a farm, unfortunately. I came home Sat. from the show to find one of my chocolate Muscovy ducklings drowned in a pool. I hated that! It hurts to see them this way. There was a concrete block for it to use as an island or to help get out but as I have watched them grow they have not used it. They swim around until I save them. I wasn't here this time and it lost it's little life to it's tiny little brain. I really thought by this age they would have more sense.

 

[RockerHen]

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How wonderful! I want one!
Jolie took off again yesterday. We have no idea how she gets out but somehow I think she squeezes through the gate. I am tired of looking for her so we just wait for her to come back. And indeed, as we left for school this morning there she sat at the gates wanting back in.

I have got to get an Anatolian for the farm. I have a feeling they may be easier than the Great Pyrs. The hair alone would be better. I am still pulling off last winters hair from Jolie. That dog is huge with all her hair!

But like you say, predators are careful to stay away or lose their lives.

Kota does shed a good bit, but it doesn't show dirt or get matted

Kota is the type of dog that'll lay around all day being a big teddy bear, but if he sees a threat, he's all business. He even will kill snakes. Even a snakeskin he found the other day was promptly "killed"

He doesn't run off that much, if so, its usually down to our pond to cool off or a quick patrol of the property

he'd rather stay curled up in the shade though, keeping a close watch on his human and bird 'pack'!

 

[huckleberryfarm]

Quote:
Yesterday afternoon, after much debate, we decided to close off the sheep into one of the pastures. Our sheep, goats and donkeys have been together for months. They are NOT separated. The dog scared us so we put our most docile donkey in with them to help protect the lamb from the dog. This donkey is with the sheep ALL THE TIME! They pasture together. My husband walked up to the house. I looked out and saw the donkey flying around the pasture. My husband ran as fast as he could out there but was not in time. The donkey had the lamb in his mouth, dropped it, stomped on it and then rolled on it. It happened like so quickly. We were shocked, mad and sad. And of course, regretting our decision. My husband was so mad at that donkey. I sat with the lamb until it died. No saving it. It had blood coming out of its ears, nose and mouth. The poor mama was walking around bleating mournfully. My kids were crying. My husband was chasing and screaming at the donkey. Ugh!

So.... the dog apparently lives... the lamb is dead.... the momma is devastated.... and the donkey is clueless. I have three more ewes that are pregnant so we are trying to figure out what the best course of action is. The predator you don't know or the predator you own? Which is the biggest threat?

I told my husband and my children that farming has a big learning curve and we are smack dab in the middle of it. We will make some bad choices but not on purpose. And we will learn from them. That's all we can do.

At least we've had a bit of rain and it's cooler!

Susanne, I am so sorry for you and your family on the loss of your lamb. I cried just reading this. I raised sheep when I lived in Oregon state some years ago and had constant trouble with the neighbors dogs on both sides of my property. I had some older male llamas that I kept seperated from the ewes with lambs(I am a hand spinner) because they would kill the lambs and finally ended up build kind of a pen inside of my pasture for the ewes with lambs so the llamas could patrol the borders of my pastures. That method worked very well but it took time to accomplish. The llamas did get one dog that got into the pasture but chased more than that out. Not sure if this would help your situation but obviously your donkey would probably do the same to a fox or dog!

A smaller fenced-in area might work. You'd think the donkeys would be good for protection. NOT! They were in a different pasture with the stray dog the other day and didn't even seem to notice. And they definitely didn't do anything about the coyotes. Darn Donkeys!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

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Yeah, the hair would be so much better. I know Jolie is protected from briars and thorns as she patrols but then I have a dickens of a time getting it out of her hair. I don't care for a hairy dog as they are constantly getting matted but it is worth it to have that trouble since she is great against predators.
She only runs off if the neighbors are target practicing (with a BB gun even!) or if it storms. She is scared of lightning and I didn't put her up in her pen yesterday when the first one rolled through. When she didn't come to supper last night or walk me up the driveway I knew she had gotten off our property and would show back up eventually. My only worry is her getting hit by a car or shot by some idiot neighbor.
Everyone knows she belongs to me but I have had a few call me to say if she comes near their kids they will have to shoot her. I try telling them she is more likely to lick the kids than snap. But you know, they aren't the brightest bulbs in the drawer!

Now these are the same neighbors that had huge dogs that were never penned and when theirs got hit by cars they would blame the driver, not themselves. You know the type!

 

[RedBugPoultry]

Quote:
Susanne, I am so sorry for you and your family on the loss of your lamb. I cried just reading this. I raised sheep when I lived in Oregon state some years ago and had constant trouble with the neighbors dogs on both sides of my property. I had some older male llamas that I kept seperated from the ewes with lambs(I am a hand spinner) because they would kill the lambs and finally ended up build kind of a pen inside of my pasture for the ewes with lambs so the llamas could patrol the borders of my pastures. That method worked very well but it took time to accomplish. The llamas did get one dog that got into the pasture but chased more than that out. Not sure if this would help your situation but obviously your donkey would probably do the same to a fox or dog!

A smaller fenced-in area might work. You'd think the donkeys would be good for protection. NOT! They were in a different pasture with the stray dog the other day and didn't even seem to notice. And they definitely didn't do anything about the coyotes. Darn Donkeys!

Humm, I had purchased my llamas to protect the sheep and found one of them would chase the ewes and try to mate with them. That was a bummer and I got rid of him but I had people tell me I should have got donkeys as they would leave the sheep alone and were better at chasing dogs. Maybe I did make the better choice at that time as I could spin the llama's wool too. It was actually fun to watch the llamas go after stray dogs in the pasture. They would actually surround them and corner them(I had 3 males) or try to corner them. Most of the local dogs learned to stay out of the pasture and the llamas learned my dogs belonged there and left them alone. They did kill one of my rabbits once that got loose....

Anyway, I wish you all the luck in this matter and hope you find a solution!

 

[RockerHen]

Quote:
That's what we tell to our neighbors, but still, you never can tell with dogs like that. The only thing about kota is his kind is bred to kill wolves, right, and the people who live across from us have a wolf hybrid. After one encounter, we had to keep the other dog out of kota's sight or he'd go ballistic. Which, of course, only in his nature

 

[pinkwindsong]

ok so who knows how long is this wonderful temp supposed to last.. is it just a fall tease???

No I am really into Fall fever.. is there a list or someplace to go to find out who and where chicken shows are going to be held.. ?? I know Anderson doesn't do it anymore. Laurens doesn't, not sure about Greenville? Is the Clemson show in Nov, just bantams? is there a show for Large Fowl?

see see I have the fever... but watch it will be 100 again tomorrow,

wasn't there supposed to be a chicken swap up on the border of SC NC?? when is that gonna be? anyone remember?

ok Ill leave you guys alone now,, for now.. hahah

have a wonderful 77 degree day....

)O(
Pink

 

[Jackie B.]

Hello! Whew! Long weekend celebratin' DH's 40th! He finally go this leg cast off last Tuesday and (shocker) is already back on his bike and can't sit still for more than 10 minutes. That man can run circles around me and I'm 14 years younger! We had a cobbler bake-off at the house Friday night, did a food tour downtown Saturday night, and went paddle boarding at Lake Jocahsee (sp) sunday afternoon. It was so awesome!!!!

Ok time to catch up- Amy: I'm set to hatch on the 24th- what day are you? And more guineas? Woman you never cease to amaze me!!!!

Susanne: I am so sorry to hear about the lamb. I know people have given you lots of advice on more guard animals but I think it comes down to 'if it doesn't work, try something else'. From everything I've read, it can be the smallest dog that does the best guarding and the bigges donkey that does the worst. Sounds like your best bet is just trial and, unfortunately, error. Obviously my great pyr sucks at guarding and would much rather snack on chickens, so now he's a doggy day care kid and does wonderful as the official 'welcome waggin' dog at Camp BowWow. Whatever as long as he's not chewing on chickens I'm happy! And so is he.

 

[pinkwindsong]

Jackie B. :

Hello! Whew! Long weekend celebratin' DH's 40th! He finally go this leg cast off last Tuesday and (shocker) is already back on his bike and can't sit still for more than 10 minutes. That man can run circles around me and I'm 14 years younger! We had a cobbler bake-off at the house Friday night, did a food tour downtown Saturday night, and went paddle boarding at Lake Jocahsee (sp) sunday afternoon. It was so awesome!!!!

Ok time to catch up- Amy: I'm set to hatch on the 24th- what day are you? And more guineas? Woman you never cease to amaze me!!!!

Susanne: I am so sorry to hear about the lamb. I know people have given you lots of advice on more guard animals but I think it comes down to 'if it doesn't work, try something else'. From everything I've read, it can be the smallest dog that does the best guarding and the bigges donkey that does the worst. Sounds like your best bet is just trial and, unfortunately, error. Obviously my great pyr sucks at guarding and would much rather snack on chickens, so now he's a doggy day care kid and does wonderful as the official 'welcome waggin' dog at Camp BowWow. Whatever as long as he's not chewing on chickens I'm happy! And so is he.​

wow you had one whirlwind wonderful weekend...

 

[huckleberryfarm]

Jackie B. :

Hello! Whew! Long weekend celebratin' DH's 40th! He finally go this leg cast off last Tuesday and (shocker) is already back on his bike and can't sit still for more than 10 minutes. That man can run circles around me and I'm 14 years younger! We had a cobbler bake-off at the house Friday night, did a food tour downtown Saturday night, and went paddle boarding at Lake Jocahsee (sp) sunday afternoon. It was so awesome!!!!

Ok time to catch up- Amy: I'm set to hatch on the 24th- what day are you? And more guineas? Woman you never cease to amaze me!!!!

Susanne: I am so sorry to hear about the lamb. I know people have given you lots of advice on more guard animals but I think it comes down to 'if it doesn't work, try something else'. From everything I've read, it can be the smallest dog that does the best guarding and the bigges donkey that does the worst. Sounds like your best bet is just trial and, unfortunately, error. Obviously my great pyr sucks at guarding and would much rather snack on chickens, so now he's a doggy day care kid and does wonderful as the official 'welcome waggin' dog at Camp BowWow. Whatever as long as he's not chewing on chickens I'm happy! And so is he.

Sounds fun! Hope the hubby stays healthy!

Yes! The weather is awesome today. Wouldn't it be lovely if it was like this all summer? Sigh....​