Do you lock them up at night?

[Griffin's Ark]

Amp I am sure that you do have coyotes, though I could be wrong. Coyotes are quite prevalent in Georgia as well as all the states north of Georgia following the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountain ranges. We use a Great Pyrenees to keep our goats safe and it seems that if you read through the different posts here on Backyard Herds you will find that often people in coyote areas have real good fencing or some kind of Live stock guardian (donkey, dog, llama, etc.) If a coyote is really hungry most fences won't stop them. An electric fence charged to about 7000 volts is recommended to deter them, and that is a bit more voltage than I want to have running through my fences. When I accidentally touch the top line in the horse paddock I am reminded why they stay away from it and that is only 3000 volts. So I guess what my main point is... I am a serious advocate of Livestock Guardians!

 

[ksalvagno]

I lock mine up at night. They have their stalls in the barn and overhang area around the barn. Not only do you have to worry about coyotes but abandoned dogs are even worse. Now there are reports that bears are crossing over from Pennsylvania into Ohio so we may have to worry about bears in the future.

 

[dianneS]

Two words... Barn Fire.


I NEVER lock anybody in anywhere. They have access to the outside from their shelter at all times.

I feel the same way. We had some serious storms this spring too and all I could think was "what if the barn collapsed on everyone" (my barn is 132 years old so I have reason to worry!)

I have a livestock guardian dog to handle and preditors and motion sensor lights.

 

[DonnaBelle]

Yes, I lock everything up but the horses.

The chickens are in a secure chicken house.

The goats are in their metal barn.

We live 3 miles E. of Tiger Mountain. There are big caves in the sides of the mountain. In fact, many years ago in the 1920's a family lived in one of the caves. Can you imagine?? I know we have bobcats, I've seen them. Some say Bigfoot is in residence in the Quichita Mtns. SE of here.

I would love a livestock guardian, but I have a 4 year old on the ranch, and I worry about a dog attacking her.

We have a 7,000 volt electric fence around the fenced in areas of the goat field. So far, we've been sooo lucky and have not lost any goats.

DonnaBelle

 

[PJisaMom]

I would love a livestock guardian, but I have a 4 year old on the ranch, and I worry about a dog attacking her.

If that's really what is stopping you, then I would urge you to do more research. I trust my dog with my children totally. She is very subservient to them and *knows* her master(s). I got her as a two year old (Great Pyrenees), and she's been beyond wonderful with not only my children, but any children that come to visit. She is wary of adult men (which I appreciate), but does well once acquainted with them. (Took her three weeks with my husband to even somewhat trust him, but now they are 100% ok.)

Doesn't work for everyone, but I wouldn't let that stop you... jes' sayin'...

 

[DonnaBelle]

I know that some folks have LGD with their families but I always think: well, they know what they're doing. My problem is everything about "goating" is so new to me. I have spent hours on this website and read books and read books, but like most things you need lots of "hands on" experience.

I don't know the first thing about "training" a guard dog. I do know that when we first became interested we went to the Goat Boot Camp in Ada, OK. OSU puts it on, and the instructors are people who raise goats and OSU and Langston U. professors. They had someone who raises the guard dogs explain that they would kill anyone or anything that they perceived "threatened" their goats.

Thus, my fears regarding the LGD and the 4 year old. She loves the bird dogs, but I won't let her in the pen with them. Of course, she's crazy about the goats, has named them all after Cars. Yep, I have a goat named Lightning McQueen and another named Mater. LOL.

I guess I will just keep locking them in the barn at night, and keep the voltage up on the fence.

DonnaBelle

 

[Pearce Pastures]

We have a really ancient barn, and I do sometimes worry about it collapsing or burning, but I do lock my goats in at night because we do have coyotes nearby and after losing almost every chicken we owned to some kind of predator (probably a raccoon or opossum), I just don't want to see my kids freak out again upon finding their pets, ya know.

 

[PJisaMom]

I know that some folks have LGD with their families but I always think: well, they know what they're doing.

I am here to personally testify that I have absolutely NO clue what I'm doing. Honest!

My problem is everything about "goating" is so new to me. I have spent hours on this website and read books and read books, but like most things you need lots of "hands on" experience.

I'm new, too! This weekend will be one year since venturing into the world of goats! Nothing like trial by fire!

I don't know the first thing about "training" a guard dog. I do know that when we first became interested we went to the Goat Boot Camp in Ada, OK. OSU puts it on, and the instructors are people who raise goats and OSU and Langston U. professors. They had someone who raises the guard dogs explain that they would kill anyone or anything that they perceived "threatened" their goats.

Wow... I can see how that would put you off quite a bit!!!! I will say that I have talked to others who have certain LGD's that need more supervision with visitors than others. A certain amount of diligence is required, for certain. I got EXTREMELY lucky and found a 2 year old female who was past all the puppy stuff, had been raised with goats and horses and cows and kids and she has been PHENOMENAL (aside from the standard and required barking that promptly torqued the neighbors off -- but it has been her necessary bark, and not an all-night thing -- despite what the neighbors have said!). That is my disclaimer totally. Pure dumb luck. She really is a great dog. Have I mentioned how much I love my dog????? Oh... and she's just gorgeous, too!

Thus, my fears regarding the LGD and the 4 year old.

I get where you are coming from, thus why I urged you to do more research if you really wanted one. The reality is that LGD's will be accustomed and acclimated to who is around them (masters/owners/etc) and consider them "theirs". I am the *very last* person to give anyone advice on LGD's, just wanted to make sure you had both sides of the story to base a decision on!

She loves the bird dogs, but I won't let her in the pen with them. Of course, she's crazy about the goats, has named them all after Cars. Yep, I have a goat named Lightning McQueen and another named Mater. LOL.

LOL! My kids got to name the last two chickens: Freedom and Justice! I finally got to name something and the new baby goats are Gordy and Evelyn, after my grandparents!

I guess I will just keep locking them in the barn at night, and keep the voltage up on the fence.

 

[elevan]

I remember a thread not that long ago about someone losing all of their adult does to a pack of coyotes that BROKE THROUGH their barn wall. Locking them in at night isn't a guarantee that you won't experience losses. (And I absolutely lock my chickens up, but not my goats). I think a livestock guardian is the best bet for protecting your herd at night.

DonnaBelle - I completely respect your caution in not getting a LGD, but they are not the only type of guardian for livestock. You could look into a llama or donkey (depends on what your predators are though). I'd be worried about the 4 yr old touching that 7000 volt fence line. I know my boy would touch it just because I told him not to

 

[DonnaBelle]

I know I worry about the fence too!! But she is a very smart 4 year old. And she has been used to being told about the fence around the chicken yard!! One thing for sure, she won't touch it but once!!

I know you can't watch them every single minute. But her Mother sure does try to. She's a stay at home Mom and is ever vigilent.
We have a big pond about 200 ft. from their house and I have worried about that pond since the day her mom brought her home from the hospital, It's always something isn't it??

We keep the horses in a barn and pasture on the other side of the ranch, because I didn't want her to get any ideas about visiting them sometime.

A little story about the fence. When I decided to mow a path out to the chicken yard with the push mower, I BACKED UP into the fence with me big behinder. Yep, DH was outside too. I screamed, he laughed and boy did it hurt!!

DonnaBelle