Guardians for Goats in woods

River Farm

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I was wondering if their were a livestock guardian that would do well in our situation. We cannot have dogs. we are in a forested area. And we have mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, and foxes.
 

BellaM

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Donkeys? They are quite fierce and will put up a good fight. They also make one helluva racket making human intervention possible. Having said that, we don't have large predators other than the two legged variety - stock theft is a real issue where I live - but the donkeys are a big deterrent! Always have two or more, for company but also so they can back each other up.
 

BellaM

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Mmmmm? I think that's correct up to a point. They are very territorial and mine seem to think the goats are part of their territory 🤔. Regardless, they've definitely stopped attempts to steal my goats and/or break into sheds etc.
 

River Farm

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I have also heard they do not keep out smaller predators like foxes. Is this true?
 

BellaM

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To be honest, I have absolutely no experience with big predators. The largest I have to worry about are jackals and donkeys are very effective against them.
Let's hope someone with experience or firsthand knowledge weighs in?
 

BellaM

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I have also heard they do not keep out smaller predators like foxes. Is this true?
I don't have foxes so I can't answer that. Sorry 🙄. Although I haven't had mongoose since I got the donkeys but that could just be a coincidence or because the environment is changing so they've moved on.
 

Beekissed

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I was wondering if their were a livestock guardian that would do well in our situation. We cannot have dogs. we are in a forested area. And we have mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, and foxes.

Curious as to why you cannot have dogs? Donkeys are iffy....if they are raised with the goats from a young age and it's a single donkey, they may protect the herd though not likely against mountain lions~there's a thread on mountain lions here right now that was testifying to that fact. They are death on anything canine, even smaller canines, like foxes.

If not raised with the goats, they are just as likely to attack the babies when born, as I found when I got a donkey to guard sheep here this spring....about lost a lamb and its mother, who was trying to protect it from the donkey. She also tried to stomp a LGD pup. She got sold in a hurry. Sweet as can be to humans, tried to kill any lambs or puppies she could.

In a place with mountain lions, the only good protection at night is a pack of LGDs and many agree that Kangal, Anatolian or Akbash are the best against larger preds like bear and lions. If I had mountain lions here I'd have at least 3-4 dogs in my pack and they'd all be wearing spike collars.
 

WeegMisty

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I would purchase predator replenant lights on Amazon! They work great for me! You could purchase predator pee to and put ti around the perimeter of your property to ward off foxes. What big predators do you have? I don't think there is a pee to ward off cougars, but cougar pee would ward off wolves, coyotes, bears, etc. Hardware cloth is a great way to predator proof your run or pasture too! Good luck, Avery
 
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