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Coyotes becoming a major problem!

katherine93
April 19th, 2008, 07:12 PM
Hi guys. Im having trouble with coyotes. they are becoming a big problem in my area. They seem to be multiplying ver y fast! The other day i was walking and found a dead male coyote dead in the ditch( He had a beuatiful rare black coat.) And i hated seeing a dead animal but at the same time(I feel bad for saying this) I was kinda releaved in a way!. today i took My german shepherd and my shepherd lab mix and my moms samoyed for a walk and i ran into a beautiful white and grey coyote. that was horrible for me because i was holding onto 3 VERY powerful dogs with HIGH prey drives. I was so scared because i couldnt keep a hold of them and they ran after it.( And my friend recently lost her St. bernard to a pack of coyotes. which made it even worse. And there has been so many dogs going missing in my area because of coyotes) The coyote seemed to turn on them but then ran away before they had a chance to meet up with each other. And i dont know what to do anymore! I cant stop walking them! I mean i live in newfoundland and i am surrounded by wooded area. They are absolutely EVERYWHERE! Im scared to leave my house. And im scared to let the dogs outside even for a pee. I have a horse out back and im worried for her(the barn doors are shut but still) . ANybody know what i can do? I'm feeling kind of helpless because i couldn't bare it if something happened to one of the dogs or the horse. i mean we live on 16 acres of land and i can ussually open the door and the dogs can just go outside on there own. But im scared now!!! What do i do!! sorry its kinda long

katherine93
April 20th, 2008, 11:39 AM
Another dog has been reported missing today! Authorities beleive it was lured away by coyotes and eaten. I am so moving to the city!

Lukka'sma
April 20th, 2008, 11:44 AM
Get a livestock guardian breed to keep the coyote population at bay. My dog is a Caucasian Ovcharka and she would take down any predator on her property. Google the breed and see if that might be what you need to protect the farm.

katherine93
April 20th, 2008, 11:51 AM
but the thing is if i got another dog even one that could take down any predator i wouldnt be able to let that one outside because i would be afraid for its life!

NoahGrey
April 20th, 2008, 11:54 AM
Guard Donkeys are great.

Here is a link:

http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex9396

Sorry..I think because it is a goverment site, u cant click on the link. Here I posted it for you on here. I didn't include the feed and care of donkeys though, so if u need the link, it is above.


In Alberta, guard donkeys have become popular as protectors of sheep and cattle and perform very well under certain conditions.

Advantages of Guard Donkeys


Guard donkeys are more accepted by the public for livestock protection than poisons.
Under certain conditions, they provide around-the-clock protection against predators and other pasture intruders.
Guard donkeys cost less to purchase and maintain than other guardian animals.
Donkeys are compatible with other livestock and share similar requirements for feed, water and shelter. They eat grass and hay and do not require special feed.
Donkeys are well-suited to most traditional methods of predation damage control and can be used in an integrated predation management program. For example, snares and poison bait can be used without special precautions to protect the donkey.


How Guard Donkeys Work

Donkeys probably do not deliberately protect livestock. Many donkeys dislike and are aggressive towards dogs, coyotes and foxes and provide indirect protection for domestic animals. Donkeys have exceptional hearing, a keen nose and excellent vision. They use these senses to detect intruders. They bray, bare their teeth, chase, and attempt to kick and bite dogs and coyotes. Some donkeys will also chase deer, bears, strange livestock, humans and other intruders in a similar fashion.

Donkeys do not intentionally patrol the pasture looking for intruders. They investigate disturbances within the herd or flock and will pursue predators or intruders if they detect them.

They are most successful in protecting livestock in small and level pastures, where the donkey can see all or most of the area from one location.

In addition to the aggressive behavior of the donkeys, the presence of a large animal with smaller livestock may be sufficient to cause some coyotes, dogs and other predators to avoid the area.

Selecting a Guard Donkey

Consistent and successful guard donkey performance depends on appropriate animal selection, proper training and realistic expectations. Guard donkeys have limitations to their physical and protective capabilities.

A guard donkey is a working animal so it must be sound, healthy and free from any conformational defects. It must be reasonably friendly towards people and easy to handle.

Attributes that contribute to effective guard donkey performance are as follows:

1. Select a donkey from "standard" stock, 44" to 50" (11 to 12.5 hands) at the shoulder. For cattle, the donkey should be a little taller, up to 54" (13.5 hands). Do not use small or miniature donkeys or slow, clumsy animals.
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2. Not all donkeys are effective guard animals. If one does not work, try another. It is worth the effort even if you have to try several animals. Donkeys live for 30 or more years, so an effective guard donkey will provide protection for many years. Acquire a donkey that is likely to have potential to be a guard animal. The donkey should have some exposure to sheep or other livestock it is to protect. Get a guarantee or replacement clause on the bill of sale if you buy from a guard donkey breeder.
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3. Use only females (jennies) or geldings. Do not use a mature intact male (jack or stallion) unless it has been raised with stock. Some jack donkeys may attack smaller animals including dogs, coyotes, calves and lambs. For the same reason, unsettled jennies, with or without foals, may be aggressive during estrus and could injure young stock.



Training Guard Donkeys

Halter break the donkey to lead. Train the donkey to lift its feet for veterinary and farrier work and to load and unload in a stock trailer or truck.

Guard donkeys may need several weeks to adjust to livestock, so introduce them to stock well before predation is likely to occur.

Keep young donkeys with goats, sheep or cattle after the donkey is weaned. Do not allow guard donkeys to run with other donkeys or horses. In this way the young donkey will think it is part of the flock or herd. Ideally, the donkey should be born in the flock or herd and its dam should be taken away at weaning to let the young animal grow up with the stock.

Place a new donkey on the other side of a common fence line with livestock. This gives the donkey and the livestock an opportunity to safely get to know one another.

A week to ten days following this socialization period, lead the donkey around the cattle or sheep where they can smell and touch each other. Then tether the donkey inside the pen with the stock and feed and groom it there for about a week. By this time both will have accepted each other. Allow the donkey to run loose in the pen or pasture and soon the stock will seek the donkey out in times of danger.

Feed the donkey with the stock so it feels like a member of the flock or herd. If stock are fed from troughs, feed the donkey first from a separate feeder or bowl so the livestock can eat unhindered. Always feed the guard donkey something every time you feed the stock.

Keep all dogs away from donkeys and do not test the donkey by teasing it with a dog. Do not allow farm dogs to become friendly with the donkey. Avoid or limit the use of stockdogs around donkeys.

If a donkey is aggressive towards or fears stock (or vice-versa) remove it immediately.

Using Guard Donkeys

Donkeys are most effective in small, open, level pastures where the stock tend to band together. The maximum number of livestock that can be guarded by a donkey is unknown, but is probably no more than 200 animals. Donkeys will probably be of little use on rolling terrain or rangeland covered with heavy bush where stock scatter widely.

Use only one donkey at a time with livestock. This is important in larger pastures because donkeys may pal up and wander away from the stock.

There is one exception to the single donkey rule; a jenny with an unweaned foal tends to be much more protective than other donkeys. A mother with a foal will give you an extra advantage because young donkeys will be raised with livestock and trained for your use or sale as a trained guard donkey.

When more than one donkey is needed to guard a very large area or large flock or herd, use jennies with unweaned foals only. Some producers are successful with two geldings, but this is rare.

Fences must be in good repair because donkeys may escape through holes when wires are broken or missing.

Remove the donkey during lambing or calving, particularly in confinement operations, as a precaution against accidents or intentional injury or disruption of the mother-newborn bond. Place the donkey in the flock when the young animals are ready to go to pasture.

Care of Donkeys

Proper care of the guard donkey is extremely important, especially hoof care. Trim the donkey's feet regularly so the donkey will be able and willing to chase predators.

Donkeys have relatively small feet and can easily fall and injure themselves walking or chasing a predator in icy or slippery areas. Keep the donkey away from these areas.

Keep donkeys away from feed grains or additives containing anabolic agents such as Deccox, Rumensin or Bovatec. These products are poisonous to donkeys. Also, keep donkeys away from premixed, high energy feeds for sheep and calves because they may cause laminitis (founder).

Provide fresh water for donkeys during cold weather because they are more prone to impaction due to dehydration than horses or other livestock.

Donkeys are susceptible to the same diseases and parasites as horses and need regular vaccinating and de-worming. Consult with a veterinarian for the appropriate vaccine and deworming treatment.

Provide fortified trace-mineralized salt in block or loose form in the pasture or by the shelter.


Hope this helps.

ACO22

katherine93
April 20th, 2008, 12:00 PM
that would be a great idea.. I read about it and i have one little concern. It says that guard donkeys are agresssive towards dogs. And thats what i want protected(along with the horse) .Would a donkey hurt one of my dogs?

NoahGrey
April 20th, 2008, 12:05 PM
Do you have a fenced area for you horse that the dogs could not get into the fence? I would do more research on it..it might be a good idea?

ACO22

katherine93
April 20th, 2008, 12:11 PM
I do have a fenced in area for the horse but the dogs can get in, they love getting in with her and chasing her and she loves it to, they can play for hours at a time and i would hate to take it away from them. It does sound like a great idea, I would have to ask my parents if it would be okay though.lol.. they will probably go for it:) They love animals just as much as me

RUSTYcat
April 20th, 2008, 01:07 PM
Where in/what part of NL are you located?

katherine93
April 20th, 2008, 03:27 PM
Central newfoundland..why?

Chris21711
April 21st, 2008, 09:14 AM
Get a livestock guardian breed to keep the coyote population at bay. My dog is a Caucasian Ovcharka and she would take down any predator on her property. Google the breed and see if that might be what you need to protect the farm.

That's what the sheep farmers around my area have, Pyrs or some similar breed. A friend of ours has 600 sheep and never looses one to coyotes., He has two Pyrs, that live outside with the sheep. When we had ours, when she was let out in the morning she would tour the fence line before going about her business. It could be worth thinking about.