goat / llama question

[beckyburkheart]

i'm not sure if this thread should go in goats or llamas, but here goes...

we have a loose llama in the neighborhood and once the horses got over their llama-trauma no one gives it much thought. i'm considering getting an lgd or a llama or donkey to run with the goats. we've always let them free range, but they're penned right now for a handful of reasons, including freshening, etc,...

but i think this is an intact male and have a nagging memory of reading that a male llama might hurt the does, that i need to get a young female to put in with the herd if i'm going to do that. i know i've read that about donkeys.

if that's true than i need to go ahead and call animal control on the loose guy so i can put my goats back out, which we plan to do toward the end of the month.

what's the current wisdom on this?

 

[ksalvagno]

I would call animal control. It isn't good for that llama to be running loose. You don't want an intact male as a guard but a gelding would be fine. You don't have to get a female to guard females. But a young female isn't good either. An adult over 3 years old and proven to guard is the only way to go whether gelding or female.