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Predators

4/16/2012

8 Comments

 
I knew that I would take my licks as a beginning farmer, but I didn't know it would be this frustrating.

If you read my previous post, you know that we were having major problems with rats taking our chicks. I finally solved that problem by moving the chicks from their kiddie pool into an old leaky water tank. The shear metal sides are too slippery for the rats to climb and too tall for them to jump or pull themselves up. We have several old leaky tanks on the farm so I'm hoping I'll have enough for the 80 poults that come in a few weeks. They are really expensive to buy new, and I can't justify that expense.

Unfortunately, I've moved from one predator to another. Now we have suffered losses to coyotes. I've known since I moved here that there were a lot of coyotes in the area. I've only seen a few, but I hear them calling at night and have seen plenty of scat. A coyote took a rabbit a few months back after she escaped from her pasture shelter, but I hadn't had any problems until the last few days. Now I've lost a second rabbit and a turkey in the course of three nights.

Losing animals is not fun and it makes me feel like a failure as a farmer. It can also incite a rage of hatred toward the offending predator. I can understand why wolves were nearly wiped out in the U.S. As much as I might hate the coyotes right now, I'm not about to try and kill them. I don't think that is a sustainable solution, and it doesn't really fit with my values. I feel bad enough trapping rats. On the other hand, I'm willing to do just about anything to terrorize the coyotes so that they leave me and my animals alone. I had put one of my landlord's alpacas in the pasture when I moved the chickens and turkeys out last week hoping he would serve as a guardian, but he seemed more lonely than anything, and clearly has not been a deterrent to the coyotes. I released him back to his three other friends today, and it's now time to try another guard animal. I'm going to get a llama this time, as they are larger and more aggressive, and known for their guardian skills. They also have the benefit of not requiring training like a guard dog. If losses continue, I will contemplate getting a livestock guardian dog, but that is not a decision to rush into. If not properly trained, a guardian dog might attack the livestock himself.

All in all, it's been a frustrating couple of days (I've also had to deal with a neighbor who doesn't think I should be allowed to keep pigs because they might scare her horses). Predation is part of farming and you have to expect some losses, but I'm going to do everything in my power to minimize those losses. If you have any advice, please share!   
8 Comments
Rachel
4/16/2012 07:13:06 am

You might try getting a hold of some wolf or mountain lion urine, which can act as a deterrent.

Reply
Jeff link
4/16/2012 10:04:04 am

I would have never thought of that. What a great idea! Time to go follow a mountain lion with a bottle. (or maybe I'll just see if I can buy some online)

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Kirsten
4/16/2012 03:33:06 pm

I've heard of people keeping guard donkeys to guard sheep, but I'm not sure if that works as well if you don't have a flock for the donkey to patrol.

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Jeff link
4/17/2012 12:33:08 am

Guard donkeys are the third option in the trifecta of commonly used guard animals (donkeys, dogs, and llamas). From my reading online, most people seem to to prefer llamas over donkeys, but my guess is that it really depends on the individual animal.

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Kirsten
4/17/2012 02:24:22 am

*nods* Plus with llamas you can harvest the fleece, which is a bonus.

Rachel
4/17/2012 02:20:50 am

Donkey's come in some pretty small sizes, which might be nice, bu they will still be useless hay burners. I did a little more thinking about this, and I was wondering if 1) the breed you are using is capable of any kind of flight and 2) if providing a high roosting spot might help them get out of the way of predators. I know wild turkeys sleep in trees at night, but I don't know whether domestic turkeys are capable of roosting.

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Jeff link
4/17/2012 04:59:47 am

Good questions, Rachel. Of the five birds we were gifted, four were heritage breeds and capable of flight, while one was the commercial broad breasted bronze and definitely not capable of flight (She is a Franken-turkey as far as I'm concerned. I will post a video soon to show the difference). The four heritage turkeys roost, but the problem was the bird that got killed had laid an egg and was sitting on her nest on the ground. Her mothering instincts apparently outweighed her survival instincts and she proved an easy meal. I need to run it by my landlord, but I'm thinking of moving the turkey feeder from the current location next to the chicken coop to a protected area (the track, for those that have been to the farm). The turkeys should be able to fly in and out but hopefully the coyotes won't be able to get in. I'll have to manually let Franken-turkey in and out every day, but she is probably going to get turned into turkey soup here pretty soon anyway.

In better news, the rabbit I thought had been eaten was waiting by the mama rabbit's rabbitat this morning. He is getting locked in a cage until I can figure out a way of keeping him from escaping.

Reply
Kirsten
4/17/2012 08:23:49 am

Wascally wabbit! Glad to hear the losses were not quite as great as initially thought, at least.




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