Will goats keep away some predators?

[Sweetly Silkies]

Quote: ohh if you get some new ones then post pictures!! I will be watching..

 

[CrunchyMeatEatr]

I have now had my chickens for about a little over a year, I live out in the country but so far the main predator I've had to deal with is several of my neighbors dogs that they let roam free. None of them are aggressive but if one of my birds jumps the fence and the dogs are around they will go after them. I have lost one bird and almost lost another because of this. (spent a month or so in isolation being doctored where it got bit an chunk of feathers torn out). As I mentioned the dogs aren't normally aggressive but when they see a chicken run they see it as a new toy to play with. I've heard of goats being aggressive toward dogs and head butting them. Would an aggressive goat protect the chickens, and could they be trained to be aggressive toward dogs but not humans? I would love to be able to free range my birds but with dogs I wouldn't risk it without a protector, and the ground is too uneven for a tractor.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I have now had my chickens for about a little over a year, I live out in the country but so far the main predator I've had to deal with is several of my neighbors dogs that they let roam free. None of them are aggressive but if one of my birds jumps the fence and the dogs are around they will go after them. I have lost one bird and almost lost another because of this. (spent a month or so in isolation being doctored where it got bit an chunk of feathers torn out). As I mentioned the dogs aren't normally aggressive but when they see a chicken run they see it as a new toy to play with. I've heard of goats being aggressive toward dogs and head butting them. Would an aggressive goat protect the chickens, and could they be trained to be aggressive toward dogs but not humans? I would love to be able to free range my birds but with dogs I wouldn't risk it without a protector, and the ground is too uneven for a tractor.

Many goats are afraid of dogs and for good reason. My boss goat will shake her horns at my dogs but she also knows my own dogs are no threat. If she see's a strange dog in the vicinity she gets very nervous and usually runs to the barn. You also do not want a goat free ranging! Not only will it do nothing to protect your chickens it will get into all kinds of trouble and may wander far and wide! If you have problems with roaming dogs you are probably best off fencing in an area for your chickens, maybe use some electric poultry netting. That would help deter the dogs as well as keep your chickens safer. I have hot wire around my pens and pasture just for that purpose.

 

[animals1981]

the dogs that will run from goats are not really dangerous dogs to start with if a dog really wants to kill a goat it can very quick and easy, it wont fight the goat head on or the sheep it will go around and just ham string it. Its a brutal act and it does not even make an effort for the dog. No matter how aggressive the goat or sheep is the dog is faster and just goes around and takes out their insides from the belly. I have seen this done as a child. Does not even have to be a big dog. A medium sized aggressive strong dog can do it easy. The only predator that can protect your animals in a serious situations are dogs. Then donkey. Then lama. The rest are just bluff. I saw a dog get a hold of an emus neck in seconds even. I thought an emu would kill a dog. I guess I was wrong. That would have killed me if it was my emu. And I would not count of great Pry stopping much personally. JMHO. For serious predator stopping you would need serious dogs, that are able to kill and dispatch and have no problem biting for real and are willing to use the full ability of their biting strength. A lot of dogs won't do that and get scared. The ones that will make amazing guard dogs because when a coon or a coyote is bitten in the head by what? 500 pounds of bite on their head they should not survive that. Big donkey can be great also. Some lama are but when ganged up on lama get killed. A good real dog imported, is not going to be ganged up on. A serious CA or CAO is going to be left alone. Lone wolves are left alone. Unless your problem is a puma or something there is nothing that can stop that other than a pack of LGD.

 

[animals1981]

Yeah goats also seem to know what is going to eat them and what is not. THey know which dogs they can chase away. The large horned goats stand a better chance. During the day they might be okay at night everyone will die though without some big nasty dogs with them. If you dont want to import the dog from hell you can get a group of protective mutts would probably work like your own pack of big dogs. Just make sure you feed them and their parents are protective and good with animals.

 

[CrunchyMeatEatr]

That's kinda what I thought but one could hope, you would think my 95lb German shepherd could keep a few mutts at bay but she's more likely to run from them herself she's all bark an no bite unless she has backup or she's protecting my son an wife. She also spends most of her time in the house so wouldn't be too much help anyway. I guess I'll just have to slowly expand the run an hope I don't have any more chickens trying to jump the fence.

 

[animals1981]

it depends on the dog some german shepherds are really nasty fighters love fighting and dont give up some dont like to fight, the imported east czech german sheps seem to be the most aggressive the kind the police force/military/prison uses mostly.

 

[cassie]

the dogs that will run from goats are not really dangerous dogs to start with if a dog really wants to kill a goat it can very quick and easy, it wont fight the goat head on or the sheep it will go around and just ham string it. Its a brutal act and it does not even make an effort for the dog. No matter how aggressive the goat or sheep is the dog is faster and just goes around and takes out their insides from the belly. I have seen this done as a child. Does not even have to be a big dog. A medium sized aggressive strong dog can do it easy. The only predator that can protect your animals in a serious situations are dogs. Then donkey. Then lama. The rest are just bluff. I saw a dog get a hold of an emus neck in seconds even. I thought an emu would kill a dog. I guess I was wrong. That would have killed me if it was my emu. And I would not count of great Pry stopping much personally. JMHO. For serious predator stopping you would need serious dogs, that are able to kill and dispatch and have no problem biting for real and are willing to use the full ability of their biting strength. A lot of dogs won't do that and get scared. The ones that will make amazing guard dogs because when a coon or a coyote is bitten in the head by what? 500 pounds of bite on their head they should not survive that. Big donkey can be great also. Some lama are but when ganged up on lama get killed. A good real dog imported, is not going to be ganged up on. A serious CA or CAO is going to be left alone. Lone wolves are left alone. Unless your problem is a puma or something there is nothing that can stop that other than a pack of LGD.

Pyranees are bred as livestock guardians. That is what they do. Other livestock guardians are Komondors, Kuvasz, Anatolian, Merema, and there are some others. A good livestock guardian does not have to kill the predator. Usually they don't. They keep it away. From the predator's point of view, trying to get a meal from a herd with a large guard dog in residence is more trouble than it is worth.

 

[4 the Birds]

Our goats do great with the chickens! They deter aerial predators and ground predators. Your free range fence, run fence, and coop will need to be VERY solid since goats like to lean and nibble (use no-climb horse fence). I had to construct an obstacle in front of the run door since they are also very agile and clever and can go anywhere they can get their head through.

We also have a dog pack (7 dogs) on the property that deters ground predators. They efficiently hunt and kill field mice and rabbits on our property and chase away ducks or or geese that hang out near our pond. Of course they cannot get into the goat/chicken area. They are well trained and are use to the chickens and goats as part of the pack.

 

[animals1981]

most great pry are not aggressive enough anymore, yes coyotes will run away but dogs wont. A dog knows when another dog is serious or not a group of them will barge right in. Even if a group of coyotes can tell if a LGD is not going to press its attack they will keep attacking and might attack the dog. Coyotes wont attack a big dog thats serious. I know many great pry that have left when sheep were attacked. They are the least aggressive out of the LGD. Many are bred for show. They have tamed down a lot. Ive heard of otherr dogs pulling them down. A lot are bred to be pets also. Yes they LGD has to fight and use its jaws if the animal presses the attack. A dog that is hell bent on killing and using its best ability thats big and strong like a LGD can kill another dog pretty fast if it wanted to. A lot won't tho. Coyotes pick up what dogs are bluff what arent. EVen a group of coyotes is not going to jump in a fenced area with a CA or CAO. They are wild animals its not worth the risk. A group of coyotes will never ever try to take out a lone wolf either. They are smart animals and learn which dogs are scared. HAve you ever seen two dogs fight and one is just cryiing and screaming after the fight happens while one rips the other to shreds? They go into shock because they dont have it in them to really bite and rip into something. There are lots of dogs out there that will pick a fight but when the other dog starts putting holes into its head it wont fight anymore and shock/terror takes over. Just like us we dont know what we will do iin a fight some of us will go into shock, and get scared. Its genitics.