Predators

Since everybody likes chicken (especially predators) and sheep aren’t capable of protecting themselves, we decided to take a three pronged approach to deter predators using a Livestock Guardian Dog, Electric Fencing, & a Livestock Guardian Donkey. Pro-Tip #1 - the Donkey was a disaster. He earned a trip to town by killing several baby lambs over two different breeding seasons. In my opinion, there are better ways to protect shep than using a Donkey.

We presently have (3) Livestock Guardian dogs (Lulu, Bailey, & Jimmie Lee). In the evenings, they sleep with the sheep inside an electrified poultry net.  This net is moved +/- 1 time per week to keep the sheep on fresh grass. Not only do the Dogs protect the sheep but they also protect the family and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. Some stay with the babies more than others, some will eat the after birth (sounds kind of nasty but this keeps the black headed buzzards away), some are more protective of us, some range far away, some stay close, etc.

Even though there is a large coyote population the area, we have never lost a calf to a coyote.  It will probably surprise you to know that the number one threat to newborn calves in our part of the world is a black headed buzzard.  They are very plentiful in the area and are constantly on the lookout for new calves on the ground.  When they spot one that hasn’t gotten up yet, several will land, surround the cow & calf, and try to peck out the eyes of the newborn calf.  The momma will fight them off as best as she can and sometimes injures the calf by accidentally stepping on it.  A calf born late in the evening stands a better chance than one born early in the day since the buzzards shut down when it begins to approach dark.         

Pro-Tip #2: We lost several of our layers to hawks in the past few years. We found that adding Black Australorps to the flock makes it look like there are crows amongst the chickens. Hawks & eagles hate crows and do their best to stay away from them. It definitely slowed down the problem we were having with hawks.

Raising grazing animals and chickens on pasture on a farm where predators freely roam on the ground and in the sky is challenging.  Kind of like living in a Tweety Bird Cartoon world. No matter what we do or how hard we try, we’ll still have problems with deterring predators and managing their “protectors”.