Chat
12-18-2013, 11:07 PM
The electric fence does a great job of predator control--IF it's turned on! It's a very hot fence and I keep it tight. I walk it regularly and I check the actual zap on the line at the opposite side from the power source every time I turn it on. But there is always the possibility of user error, a downed tree branch, too much snow, or a part or battery that wears out/gets damaged and must be replaced by mail order. So yeah, a second line of defense is definitely in the works.
I think I may have just had tremendous luck on that front. I went on Craigslist today and a lady in Pueblo just listed a 3-year-old Pyrenees/Anatolian mix that has been with her goats since puppy-hood. The woman is downsizing her goat herd and has to get rid of one of her livestock guardians for financial reasons. She can't feed extra dogs that she doesn't need with a smaller herd. She thought she might keep the dog since her daughter wanted one to show in 4-H, but it's just not a show dog. It does well in the obedience class and isn't aggressive with people but she is nervous when strangers handle her. She doesn't want to be a pet--she wants to be with her goats. The dog is free to the right home, and the woman seemed very excited when I told her about my situation. From the description, she sounds perfect! I'm hoping I can get out there and meet the dog tomorrow or Friday at latest. I really hope this is the break I need! Wish me luck!
I'm also considering the baiting and shotgun approach. I have the perfect deck to sit on and call them in. My dad said he's going to buy me a coyote calling CD. A friend of mine also said she knows a trapper. I'd love to have a coyote pelt, especially one from this season. All the coyotes I've seen this year have had unusually thick, healthy, luxurious-looking fur. I know exactly where they run and would love to help someone lay trap lines so I can get one without holes in it.
As for me, I'm doing alright. It was a sad day, but I'm thankful we did not lose more goats by my carelessness. The ground was frozen, but Phil was able to dig a hole in the side of a big dirt pile down by the end of the driveway and we buried Nibbles there. I'm glad she wasn't mangled. She looked peacefully asleep, which made it easier to say goodbye. It doesn't look as though she had a very long or difficult struggle, and given Nibble's scrappy nature, she's probably the one who picked that fight, taunting the coyotes from the other side of the fence. She probably thought it was on and that she'd get a good laugh. I wonder if they'd have come into the enclosure at all if Nibbles hadn't gone down to the bottom of the hill. The top of the pen is right next to our house, and I think the coyotes were afraid to come very far into the pen. From the tracks, they stayed right by the fence line and left without their prey the moment they realized they couldn't get her out of the enclosure. Poor, brave little goatie. Sometimes over-confidence doesn't pay.
I think I may have just had tremendous luck on that front. I went on Craigslist today and a lady in Pueblo just listed a 3-year-old Pyrenees/Anatolian mix that has been with her goats since puppy-hood. The woman is downsizing her goat herd and has to get rid of one of her livestock guardians for financial reasons. She can't feed extra dogs that she doesn't need with a smaller herd. She thought she might keep the dog since her daughter wanted one to show in 4-H, but it's just not a show dog. It does well in the obedience class and isn't aggressive with people but she is nervous when strangers handle her. She doesn't want to be a pet--she wants to be with her goats. The dog is free to the right home, and the woman seemed very excited when I told her about my situation. From the description, she sounds perfect! I'm hoping I can get out there and meet the dog tomorrow or Friday at latest. I really hope this is the break I need! Wish me luck!
I'm also considering the baiting and shotgun approach. I have the perfect deck to sit on and call them in. My dad said he's going to buy me a coyote calling CD. A friend of mine also said she knows a trapper. I'd love to have a coyote pelt, especially one from this season. All the coyotes I've seen this year have had unusually thick, healthy, luxurious-looking fur. I know exactly where they run and would love to help someone lay trap lines so I can get one without holes in it.
As for me, I'm doing alright. It was a sad day, but I'm thankful we did not lose more goats by my carelessness. The ground was frozen, but Phil was able to dig a hole in the side of a big dirt pile down by the end of the driveway and we buried Nibbles there. I'm glad she wasn't mangled. She looked peacefully asleep, which made it easier to say goodbye. It doesn't look as though she had a very long or difficult struggle, and given Nibble's scrappy nature, she's probably the one who picked that fight, taunting the coyotes from the other side of the fence. She probably thought it was on and that she'd get a good laugh. I wonder if they'd have come into the enclosure at all if Nibbles hadn't gone down to the bottom of the hill. The top of the pen is right next to our house, and I think the coyotes were afraid to come very far into the pen. From the tracks, they stayed right by the fence line and left without their prey the moment they realized they couldn't get her out of the enclosure. Poor, brave little goatie. Sometimes over-confidence doesn't pay.