Mini Horses
Herd Master
Much depends on your fence...and the general predator aggression in your area. Do you have a dog?
Heaven Creek Farms Goat & Sheep pregnancy journey
- Thread starter EweAreKiddingMe!
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- #22
EweAreKiddingMe!
Overrun with beasties
Yes we have a dog but our gate has some wireing that a determined fox/coyote could jump through if they are skinny enough
SageHill
Herd Master
Around here that is definitely a threat. We don't have foxes, but we do have coyotes. Unless you have a livestock guardian dog they are definitely something to be concerned about. Coyotes will, and DO take out adult sheep as well. Pellet guns can be a good deterrent. Secure night housing is a must around here. Though not on this ranch, I have lost many sheep (and chickens) to coyotes who will jump over OR dig under fencing.
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- #24
EweAreKiddingMe!
Overrun with beasties
Thank you for that horrifying image
Baymule
Herd Master
Yes, you have a predator buffet. Goats are a prey animal and cannot protect themselves much less sheep. The smells of birthing will ring the dinner bell for predators. Bobcats especially. Silent, can leap fences, snatch a lamb, leap out and not leave a trace they were ever there.
There are so many coyotes here that if I didn’t have my dogs, I would have no sheep.
Don’t run out and get a donkey, they are just as likely to bite, pick up and throw and stomp your goats and sheep as any other predator. Plus when an apex predator shows up, they run faster than the other livestock. Devil take the hindmost!
Please give us a detailed description of your pens, fencing and barn/shed if you have one. We can give descriptions of how to augment it for better protection. And how many acres, any other details you can think of.
If you decide to get a LGD, we can advise you on that too.
There are so many coyotes here that if I didn’t have my dogs, I would have no sheep.
Don’t run out and get a donkey, they are just as likely to bite, pick up and throw and stomp your goats and sheep as any other predator. Plus when an apex predator shows up, they run faster than the other livestock. Devil take the hindmost!
Please give us a detailed description of your pens, fencing and barn/shed if you have one. We can give descriptions of how to augment it for better protection. And how many acres, any other details you can think of.
If you decide to get a LGD, we can advise you on that too.
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- #26
EweAreKiddingMe!
Overrun with beasties
Thank you for this info! we do have a inside pen I could use and we know to get rid of the afterbirth in the woods and so far after 12 years we have had no losses with our pygmy's yet but I did see something on coyotes hunting lambs on a show yesterday.We have an Australian shepherd but she lives inside she does chase our fox though.We haven't seen any bobcats down here (we are in Southern yourk county Pennsylvania) I will take pics of our pens we have a winter birthing one and a summer outdoor pen
Mini Horses
Herd Master
Some well placed, high charged hot wire may be enough...even if used mostly at night. Well see after your pics of current set up. 
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- #28
EweAreKiddingMe!
Overrun with beasties
so our fence is 4 1/2 ft high we have 480 sqft we have double fencing which has 1ft holes reinforced with fencing that is 1inch wide 2inch tall holes I don't think a coyote could dig under the fencing because there is soo much grass under it even the weed whacker can't get through
Our inside pen is 300 sqft and the walls go up to the ceiling (it is in the barn) the door is wood like the walls and it has a 1 1/2 ft gap at the top but the door is 6ft high and the walls are 7 1/2 ft high
we also have horse stalls if we need them since we had a few losses this year(1sold 1 put down) so we have 2 stalls we could use if needed we also have a run under in the goat pen that has a gate that we can close
also the wire isnt electric it is just tight
Our inside pen is 300 sqft and the walls go up to the ceiling (it is in the barn) the door is wood like the walls and it has a 1 1/2 ft gap at the top but the door is 6ft high and the walls are 7 1/2 ft high
we also have horse stalls if we need them since we had a few losses this year(1sold 1 put down) so we have 2 stalls we could use if needed we also have a run under in the goat pen that has a gate that we can close
also the wire isnt electric it is just tight
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- #29
EweAreKiddingMe!
Overrun with beasties
Here are the inside pens
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- #30
EweAreKiddingMe!
Overrun with beasties
Here is the outside pen
