Predators

Since everybody likes chicken (especially predators) and sheep aren’t capable of protecting themselves, we decided to take a two pronged approach to deter predators using livestock guardian dogs and electric fencing.

We have three livestock guardian dogs: Lulu, Bailey, & Jimmie Lee. In the evenings, they sleep with the sheep inside an electrified poultry net.  This net is moved a couple of times each 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.         

Protecting our free range layers from aerial predators has been quite the challenge. It’s kind of like an episode of the old Road Runner Cartoon where the predators are the Road Runner and we’re constantly trying some new crazy gadget or technique like Wylie Coyote to stop them from getting our chickens.

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 or Road Runner Cartoon world. No matter what we do or what new gadget we tryout, we still have problems with deterring predators and managing their “protectors”.     

Pro-Tip: When a calf hits the ground the black headed buzzards quickly arrive. We’ve found that if we chase them off and leave a Side x Side that has a roof about 50’ away from the newborn calf, the buzzards will think we’re still in the Side x Side and won’t return to try to injure the calf.