Why am I losing ducks with my LGD on duty?

[Angeliki Manouselis]

If it is a coyote your goats could be next. I see coyotes around here and they jump the 4' fence without even trying. They also dig under, just depends on what is the easiest. Please be sure and let us know what the cameras catch.

Yes, I had two LGDs in a very small pasture. I just like them in pairs...I like to raise everything with another of their own kind. They aren't high energy dogs and they never seemed to be bored. And they did play with each other, which I liked.

Ugh I hate to think about that! I have been checking on them all throughout the night, and I put a bright motion light out in the pasture too. I might end up looking for another LGD since you've told me all of this. I was worried I didn't have enough work for two. I will definitely let everyone know what I find out! Thank you for all the info!

 

[Angeliki Manouselis]

The farm you got her from, how many LGD's was she with? Was she part of a team? I know she had pups, I am not talking about them.

So I'm not exactly sure, I know the lady had a male PYR that was the sire of the pups, she told me the two dogs would patrol her property, that they wore down the grass on the perimeter of the fences because of their patrolling, I have not seen Indie do this at all. I feel like they got Indie just to breed her and sell the pups but i'm not entirely sure... She is fabulous with the livestock, she acts like a perfect LGD with her goats, she hasn't bonded yet but when she is in the pasture she pays no attention when the kids jump on her, I can tell she was raised right.
Now, I do leave my female farm dog who is Indie's age outside all day and most of the night while i'm at work. They play then lay around together, and my Zena is a really good watch dog, nothing gets passed her, she can smell a possum all the way on the other side on my dads acreage, and she goes chasing rabbits that I haven't seen yet because they're so far away. I also trust Zena for the most part around the animals. She is perfectly ok with the chickens, she is just still a little too curious with the new baby goats, but she got into the pasture today, she was barking at the neighbor walking around on the other side of the fence, and the kids were running around passed her and she didn't bother them at all, she's just curious. But she's not a LGD (mastiff X curr) so I am careful. But she never even kills the possums around, just corners them and barks.

 

[Angeliki Manouselis]

Update! My dad spotted the culprit tonight! Bobcat! Now where do I go from here? They're so stealthy! Should I try training Indie to recognize when the flock is in danger by all the loud sounds they make? I have trained my farm dogs to do this before with the distinctive alert calls that the roosters and hens make during the say when they spot a predator nearby... I figured she would have already known to do this instinctively but I guess not. I am thinking of getting a couple guinnea hens to have them as the alarm system. Or I can trap this bobcat as I've done in the past with another one. Or just not have ducks anymore... Decisions, decisions...

 

[Simpleterrier]

Or get an Airedale and u can put the lgd on the porch

 

[farmerjan]

Trap it or shoot it. You will find that it will go after the chickens, the guineas any small mammal it can, including the baby goats. Once they find a place of free and easy meals, they will continue to frequent it until you stop them or all the meals are gone.

 

[Angeliki Manouselis]

Trap it or shoot it. You will find that it will go after the chickens, the guineas any small mammal it can, including the baby goats. Once they find a place of free and easy meals, they will continue to frequent it until you stop them or all the meals are gone.

Ugh, yes It's never ending I trapped one a coupe years ago.. I will try to trap this one again soon. They're not the easiest to catch.

 

[Angeliki Manouselis]

Or get an Airedale and u can put the lgd on the porch

I have a Mastiff X Black Mouth Curr I am leaving outside with my PYR X Karakachan now. I think as a team they will work very well together. I'm going to try to trap the bobcat, somehow, i'll put the trap on the other side of the fence i suppose

 

[Stephine]

She is very new at her new home and might just need to learn the ropes and bond to the animals you want her to protect, that might take a little while - also at 2 years old she is barely old enough to be a serious and trustworthy LGD. In the case of the rabbit - maybe she thought he belonged? It took you telling her that rabbits aren’t allowed for her to get on it. I definitely would give her time and attention. Let her see you take care of the ducks, so she knows they belong.
Does she have back up from the other dogs? That would be important if coyotes are to blame for the missing ducks. At the same time, they could show her which intruders are trouble.
Yes, trapping is not a solution - as you saw, the niche that is left open will soon be filled by a new predator and you’ll only find out about it after suffering more losses. Better to be prepared for whatever might want to attack your livestock instead.

 

[Angeliki Manouselis]

She is very new at her new home and might just need to learn the ropes and bond to the animals you want her to protect, that might take a little while - also at 2 years old she is barely old enough to be a serious and trustworthy LGD. In the case of the rabbit - maybe she thought he belonged? It took you telling her that rabbits aren’t allowed for her to get on it. I definitely would give her time and attention. Let her see you take care of the ducks, so she knows they belong.
Does she have back up from the other dogs? That would be important if coyotes are to blame for the missing ducks. At the same time, they could show her which intruders are trouble.
Yes, trapping is not a solution - as you saw, the niche that is left open will soon be filled by a new predator and you’ll only find out about it after suffering more losses. Better to be prepared for whatever might want to attack your livestock instead.

I’ve been telling myself the same thing. She’s still new. Maybe I should leash her and bring her with me to do all the animal chores. I was also thinking the age too. And I need to get her spayed ASAP. She does have my other dog to back her up, I’ve been leaving her outside at night now and she is a great guard dog she is highly aware of predators. She was just always an indoor dog at night. She is making the transition.

 

[Ridgetop]

Not all LGDs guard poultry well. Also, the large tree in the poultry yard is probably how the bobcat is getting in to get the ducks. Check to see if there are any overhanging branches that the bobcat can get to outside the fenced area where the dogs are. Anytime you have a large tree in a poultry yard and lose poultry check up in the branches and tree canopy for carcasses. Some predators will make the kill and take the carcass into the tree to eat it. If the bobcat is getting in that way, your LGD may not smell her since the bobcat is up high. She is still very young and inexperienced at 2 years old and may not realize that the danger is coming from overhead. Also if she was bred, and weaned puppies before you got her at 2 years old, that means maybe 3 months out of the LGD business while caring for pups. Being bred would have meant several weeks heavily pregnant, and another 6 weeks (at least) feeding and caring for puppies. It sounds like the previous owners were not too knowledgeable since a large breed like an LGD should be at least 3 years old before being physically mature enough to breed and raise a litter.

It is good that the other dog wants to stay out with her. Between the 2 dogs they might be able to let you know when the bobcat comes around.