Turkeys, Goats, Donkey...Flock Guardians?

[Florida Bullfrog]

Wow, brave turkey

The turkey is so much bigger than the hawk it wasn’t really a contest. Adult turkeys only have to fear bald eagles and great horned owls in terms of birds of prey, and I suppose golden eagles where they are found.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Great pictures impressive set up!

A labor of love
The cutest part is the chickens acting as our daily construction inspectors, checking progress or any improvements made.
Clucking approval, then perching & preening shows they're more grateful than most people we've done work for.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Donkeys are great for stomping on things. I had an acquaintance that lost several of their own ducks to their donkey, so...

 

[Liz Birdlover]

You'll need to predator proof the area. Here are some ways to predator proof the coop and surrounding area the animals roam:
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1. Use hardware cloth on the sides and bottom to prevent animals from getting loose and to get predators to not attack through the openings.
2. Raise the coop. This helps rats to not burrow under and to prevent predators from being able to dig under and into the animals home.
3. Use a solid floor on the coop/run. This also helps with predators not being able to dig under.
4. Cover the chicken's run so flight predators cannot enter.
5. If you have any windows in the coop, secure them where predators cannot enter.
6. Don't leave food/water out or discard animal remains around your house so it doesn't attract pests and predators. Fertilizer is fine to use but just know that keeping it around will attract pests. Those pests do feed your chickens though. Make sure it doesn't get out of hand so something like fly strike doesn't happen.
7. Lock the animals up before it's dark out. Night time is a perfect time most predators come out.
8. Acquire a livestock guardian dog. LSGD's are the best choice for keeping predators away. Although geese are loud, turkeys are big, and roosters can pick a fight, they're not as reliable as a larger breed of dog is. Sebastopol geese are a more expensive/show breed and still aren't as reliable.
9. Set up traps around the animals to trap any unwanted predators. * Make sure your animals are not able to get into any of these traps. Do not use pesticides or poison! *
10. Keep cameras around you animals to see what goes on at night and what might've attacked/killed your animals if that ever happens.

Here are some articles to read for more info! Do more research and ask more questions other than what I give you here! Going onto BackYard Chicken's Facebook page and asking questions there will help you more!
1. Predator Proofing #1
2. Predator Proofing #2
3. Predator Proofing #3
4. Predator Proofing #4

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Cat's aren't a huge threat to poultry unless you have chicks. The chicks could be kept inside until fully feathered which helps solve that problem. Groundhogs are safe to keep around. They don't really bother the poultry. A groundhog is around my house and just eats grass with them. Skunks are definitely a problem when it comes to eating eggs and spraying. There has been some instances where they have attacked chickens before, so keep them away. Possums will only attack if they feel threatened, other than that, they'll probably just go after any eggs that are around. Raccoons are known to climb fences and get through chicken houses ( They can get onto the roof. Make sure that is secure. Metal roofs are a great way to ensure they won't get in. ) and attack poultry. They're not good to keep around chickens. Lots of people recommend keeping crows around. They do eat the eggs but as long as you collect them every morning, they're good for keeping hawks away. Getting a cat like a Maincoon won't help. They do stand their ground, ( trust me, I had one. We adopted him when he was 15, but he sadly passed away 2 weeks ago, 2 weeks before he turned 16, his gotcha day. ) but a cat like that would probably not benefit with all that hair and the ticks around. People do recommend them because of their size, but sticking to the regular barn cats is better, in my opinion. Cats are a good addition for keeping rodents away, but they are predators so they probably will attack the birds if they're not kept away. Goats and Donkeys are actually great for keeping some predators away so as long as you have the space, money, time, and heart attitude, they're a great choice!
It is very odd that the foxes will hang around. Especially if people are feeding the foxes, there's less of a chance for them to go an attack your livestock, however, it doesn't stop them from doing it and only attracts them closer to your animals.


* I do suggest asking more questions and even going on @BYC's Facebook page to ask more questions. You'll get more answers on there and get some extra tips!

Thank you! I've got 8 out of 10 of those suggestions going on already, thank goodness...just not #8 dog & not #10 cameras...yet anyway.
I've been really fortunate and haven't lost a single bird at this point, but when my Pigeons fly, I worry about the hawks, and now I'm going to be worried about the Guineas, because I've never had Guineas before. I already know they're going to be roaming around eating bugs, they fly and love to be up high, and right next door is a neighbor's lot, full of trees...that's where the hawks land and hang out to watch my flock. I know there is risk to having any animals in our lives, I'm just trying to address as many as possible, take necessary precautions and make preparations. I'm worried about the Guineas most.

 

[Suzz]

Pens, Chickens, Pigeons & Guineas
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Local "visitors"

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Great pictures impressive set up!

 

[Mama_Arty]

Personally, I wouldn't mix turkey with my chickens
My black Spanish tom just killed one of my brahma. Literally held her down, pulled her eyes out, and peeled all the skin off of her face/neck. She was still alive when my husband found her and we had to cull her and separate the turkey.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have turkeys, geese, donkeys, and goats, along with my ducks and chickens. Turkeys and geese will harass other poultry at best, and will sometimes kill them. Not good to mix the species in my experiences.

Donkeys are hit and miss. Goats will do nothing but run from predators. I still experience losses on free range birds yearly. The only thing that works is predator proof pens. Relying on other species will never work 100% of the time.

 

[Yardmom]

Wow on your wildlife sightings. We see foxes here frequently, but they are here looking for chicken dinner. I can also confirm that goats do not make good guardian animals. The foxes don't hesitate to pass through my goat pen to get to my chickens.

 

[PresaCanariosRule]

When I moved here Jan. 2006, I was going through chemo again, it was rough, so I was home a lot. I'd look outside that 1st winter here, I'd see the wild critters & I learned their routines. The flock of 20 buzzards held their morning meetings in the front, 2 leaders standing on posts, the rest on the ground, all spreading wings to greet the morning sun's warmth. The deer followed their typical path, from one batch of trees to the next, grazing the corn field on the way. The male fox would trot by on his path, same route daily, same times like clockwork, 10am, 1pm, 4pm or just before dusk. Sometimes he'd stop, sniffing around, or sit down & look around.
There were times all buzzards, deer & fox could've all been in 1 lovely photo...if only I'd had the darn camera ready.

There was a spot in my back yard by the cornfield, the grass was always cushy there, Foxy would lay down & bask in the sunshine, often his mate joined him, sometimes they'd nap. Whenever I went out the back door, he'd sit up & watch me, like a dog expecting a treat. I later found out that the people who lived here previously, sometimes put food out there. I guess the foxes never forgot. There are tons of wild berries there as well, so I only pick the high ones in summer, leaving the low ones for them. When the foxes have their kits, every Spring, they roll around playing on that patch of grass. When I was ill, it was like watching the nature Discover channel outside my window. I always loved wildlife, enjoyed sketching, as where I lived as a teen was also full of farmland, protected woods & wildlife.

Anyway, when a person is fighting cancer repeatedly, the prognosis isn't so great, therefore, the appreciation of the little things in life can become very dear. I've been blessed to have close encounters, always calm & peaceful, with Deer, Crows, Buzzards, Gold Finches, Robins, Turkeys, Geese, Ducks, Hawks, Eagles, occasional Falcons, Raccoons, Opossums, Turtles, Toads, Snakes, Lizards, even swam with a Sea Turtle, a mama Whale & her calf & Hammerheads...not that I went looking for any of them, they just showed up & we hung out a bit...just glad they weren't hungry or thinking of me as an appetizer. It's interesting, when you talk to them, they look you in the eye, tilt their head & seem to listen...perhaps they're so used to jackasses screaming at them, that kind words or just my tone of voice may calm them.

The foxes, when they raise their kits, sometimes there are 2 or 3 adult pairs with their kits, about 20 to 24, who gather for Spring family reunions, on that nice patch of grass. They hang for about a week, then they venture off, going to their own territories I guess. There's always 1 pair that will stay here, they have 2 dens at all times, in the 80 acre corn field next to my 2 acre parcel. I can't say if it's the same pair all these years, or their descendants taking over, but they are quite at home & I believe they think they are dogs, or perhaps learned by watching dogs.

I know the dangers of rabies, but fortunately that's been very rare in this neck of the woods.
There's been a sort of synergy here, I can't explain it, I know it may not last & could change at any given moment as wildlife is wild after all, but I cherish it while it lasts. The consistent wildlife residents here have their routines, but the migratory hawks & falcons, they are the ones to fear, because they show up hungry & fierce, not caring about routines or balance. It's pretty crazy to see several different types of hawks show up in 1 day, and the resident hawks & crows go nuts screeching & dive bombing them. That's why I'm worried about letting the Guineas free range & every April when Pigeon flying season begins. I realize there's not much I can do about aerial attacks, but often dive bombing happens at the most vulnerable time & spot...the Guinea or Pigeon trying to land & scoot inside the loft to safety, that's where 99% of attacks occur. Me running, yelling & waving a broom has distracted & saved many pigeons, but I can't be here 24/7.

I just saw a Great Pyrenees mix puppy yesterday at the store...what a soft precious puppy. It's been awhile since I had dogs, breaks your heart when they pass. I'm thinking a dog might be joining my family. Doing the research now. Well, I'm pretty sure my sweetheart would rather fence the property than build coop #4 .

Look at this little guy!

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What a beautiful post! Your words touched me. Fighting cancer is frightening, you found peace in nature during your recovery and that is healing in itself.

Have you considered a German Shepherd from PROVEN working lines as a LGD?

Less likely to attempt to expand its territory like a GP will do and very easy to train. GSD requires less grooming, less food and less room in your house should you prefer to have the dog inside with you at night.

A GP takes up ALOT of room in the room...says the woman living with 5 dogs in the house

Happy healing and hoping to see posts of your new puppy.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

What a beautiful post! Your words touched me. Fighting cancer is frightening, you found peace in nature during your recovery and that is healing in itself.

Have you considered a German Shepherd from PROVEN working lines as a LGD?

Less likely to attempt to expand its territory like a GP will do and very easy to train. GSD requires less grooming, less food and less room in your house should you prefer to have the dog inside with you at night.

A GP takes up ALOT of room in the room...says the woman living with 5 dogs in the house

Happy healing and hoping to see posts of your new puppy.

No pups...yet anyway. But 2 females foxes have their kits so it's been fun watching them. I let my flock out when I am there, so far so good. Still have Geese & Rabbits, always do, I guess the foxes eat other places? Just grateful for the balance.