Alice Acres
Ridin' The Range
Go for it!!! 
Pearce Pastures: Where did I go?
- Thread starter Pearce Pastures
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- #202
Pearce Pastures
Barn Babe
Yesterday was a bummy day, which was a good thing. I did get some stuff done (bills, cleaning, online window shopping for Christmas), but I made myself slow up and try to just chill out a bit. Me chilling out is kind of a joke around here because it just doesn't mean the same thing as it does for most. Me chilling out just means I did not start any new construction projects, rearrange the barn, muck out the pens, and build any milking stands or brooding boxes (ya know, all in one day).
We wrapped things up by carving pumpkins. Yes, I realize it was November 3rd and we kind of missed the boat on that but the kids had fun
And for some Halloween pics...
Ben wanted to be a hunter (which is kind of funny because he has a hard time with my processing chickens and fish).
Elliott wanted to be Abraham Lincoln whom he has been fascinated with ever since taking a trip to Abe's boyhood home this summer. He spent the night telling everyone he was the 16th president and so many people said that he should run for reelection.
And Julia wanted to be a princess...with a beard...because her brothers got one drawn on so she wanted one too. Eh, whatever.
We wrapped things up by carving pumpkins. Yes, I realize it was November 3rd and we kind of missed the boat on that but the kids had fun
And for some Halloween pics...
Ben wanted to be a hunter (which is kind of funny because he has a hard time with my processing chickens and fish).
Elliott wanted to be Abraham Lincoln whom he has been fascinated with ever since taking a trip to Abe's boyhood home this summer. He spent the night telling everyone he was the 16th president and so many people said that he should run for reelection.
And Julia wanted to be a princess...with a beard...because her brothers got one drawn on so she wanted one too. Eh, whatever.
autumnprairie
Owned by the Rotten Heifers
too cute, I understand completely on the chilling out part
Straw Hat Kikos
The Kiko Cowboy
hah That is funny. And your little girl with the beard. lol
promiseacres
Herd Master
great costumes! Love her independant spirit. She should be an inspiration to be who you are and not to follow the crowd
- Thread starter
- #206
Pearce Pastures
Barn Babe
I was dead asleep until just before 2 this morning when my dog, Halle, started yowling, the goats start mah-ing, and some other awful howling screech in my yard started calling off. I didn't even know what it was at first and I stumbled to get a baseball bat and wake up my husband. COYOTES!! Calling in the pack for dinner at my place. 
The fields around me have been getting harvested and as flashlight into the field, we could see her, just yowling out the dinner bell, and hear the rest of them just by the road yipping. DH started hollering back and thumping the fence post with his bat and she bolted, but we could still hear them close-by all night.
We locked up the barn, but my dog was just so upset. She acted both scared and brave, shaky but wanting to go run out to protect us all. God bless that dog of mine but she would be coyote food in a second if I were to let her loose on them. The breed of coyotes we have are close in size to German shepherds (experts say their size is due to cross-breeding with wolves). I am glad we don't have some of the other types of predators to deal with around here (cougars, bears, and actual wolves), but it kept me up the rest of the night worrying. If we lock up the barn at night, the goats and chickens are safe behind solid walls and door. But with as big and bold as these predators are, my girl, though not a small dog, she could get herself killed one of these days.
I have been kicking around the idea of getting an LGD or even a donkey, and this has got me thinking all the more about it. It takes time to train any kind of herd protector from what I have read, so I am wondering if I should start looking. We plan on getting more seriously into our goats and chickens in the coming years, and might even be adding some additional acreage at some point in the next 5 years---might be worth our time to get an LGD pup in the spring and start training it.
The fields around me have been getting harvested and as flashlight into the field, we could see her, just yowling out the dinner bell, and hear the rest of them just by the road yipping. DH started hollering back and thumping the fence post with his bat and she bolted, but we could still hear them close-by all night.
We locked up the barn, but my dog was just so upset. She acted both scared and brave, shaky but wanting to go run out to protect us all. God bless that dog of mine but she would be coyote food in a second if I were to let her loose on them. The breed of coyotes we have are close in size to German shepherds (experts say their size is due to cross-breeding with wolves). I am glad we don't have some of the other types of predators to deal with around here (cougars, bears, and actual wolves), but it kept me up the rest of the night worrying. If we lock up the barn at night, the goats and chickens are safe behind solid walls and door. But with as big and bold as these predators are, my girl, though not a small dog, she could get herself killed one of these days.
I have been kicking around the idea of getting an LGD or even a donkey, and this has got me thinking all the more about it. It takes time to train any kind of herd protector from what I have read, so I am wondering if I should start looking. We plan on getting more seriously into our goats and chickens in the coming years, and might even be adding some additional acreage at some point in the next 5 years---might be worth our time to get an LGD pup in the spring and start training it.
Southern by choice
Herd Master
They (coyotes) are VERY bad in our county in NC. What's worse is we now have the "Red Wolf" that is "protected". 
The so called red wolf is nothing but a mutt, a hybrid of purposely mating the wolf with the coyote. Flippin' brilliant! So they look like an 85 lb coyote. Some brilliant knucklehead decided it would be a good idea to bring in coyotes to cut back the deer population. This is where we need the smiley that shows us "shaking head in disbelief". So instead 
. The dogs were on/off all night.
Pearce as I'm sure ya know from Straws journal we have 2 teams of LGD's. They are worth their weight in gold! I've heard donkeys and llamas are good guardians too. I have heard that sometimes the llamas and donkeys can take to killing the lambs and kids though. I don't think that's the norm. For us that wasn't an option, too expensive to maintain and I've got some younger children that I would worry about around a donkey especially. Dogs are my "past life profession" so I guess its just what I know well. I would recommend a team though, they work better that way.
The so called red wolf is nothing but a mutt, a hybrid of purposely mating the wolf with the coyote. Flippin' brilliant! So they look like an 85 lb coyote. Some brilliant knucklehead decided it would be a good idea to bring in coyotes to cut back the deer population. This is where we need the smiley that shows us "shaking head in disbelief". So instead . The dogs were on/off all night.Pearce as I'm sure ya know from Straws journal we have 2 teams of LGD's. They are worth their weight in gold! I've heard donkeys and llamas are good guardians too. I have heard that sometimes the llamas and donkeys can take to killing the lambs and kids though. I don't think that's the norm. For us that wasn't an option, too expensive to maintain and I've got some younger children that I would worry about around a donkey especially. Dogs are my "past life profession" so I guess its just what I know well.
I would recommend a team though, they work better that way.
Straw Hat Kikos
The Kiko Cowboy
Pearce - I think you guys would do great with an LGD. If you do go that route you must do alot of reading up about them. They are not like any dog you have ever owned. Even people who have had different breed and been around dog their whole life say that LGD's are a different breed, if you will. I'm sure there are several people here that would love to give you there experiences and some help with owning and raising an LGD.
I would also recommend a dog for protection rather than other routes just because dogs really are some of the smartest animals on the planet. They know how to tell whats ok and whats not ok. They are also loving and personable. I don't really know how loving a donley or llama is but it can't be more than a dog. haha
I say think about it some and if you go that route I'll be here backing you up!! I'm pro LGD!! haha
I would also recommend a dog for protection rather than other routes just because dogs really are some of the smartest animals on the planet. They know how to tell whats ok and whats not ok. They are also loving and personable. I don't really know how loving a donley or llama is but it can't be more than a dog. haha
I say think about it some and if you go that route I'll be here backing you up!! I'm pro LGD!! haha
bluebirdsnfur
Chillin' with the herd
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Wow, I wonder why you have so many by you. We don't live that far from you and hardly ever see or hear one. And the last one I did see was rather small. I hope it stays that way. Hope they don't become a big issue for you.
Nice to hear you're chillin out! Love the kids costumes!
Nice to hear you're chillin out!
Love the kids costumes! - Thread starter
- #210
Pearce Pastures
Barn Babe
Lucky you! We have always had them but this year seems to be their year. They are so bold too, even coming out in daylight. A little while back, one was running along the roadside on my way into work, just looking at me like I was in the way. I am really really working DH to let me get an LGD---he probably will only go for one though and not a team, but I suppose I can always get another one later on when he figures out I am right
