Livestock guard animals - Donkey or Mule?

[silverwolf1]

In my opinion, a mule is not as effective a guard animal as a donkey. A donkey will bray at EVERYTHING, and stomp the life out of it if it's unfamiliar. That of course has it's drawbacks too, especially if you have neighbors. Mules tend to be more laid back in my experience, and quieter. No rat will live long where a donkey has free range though.




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[ferritlove]

Thanks Silverwolf!  That's the sort of advice I was hoping for.  Our neighbors are one of the reasons I'm looking at protection animals... they keep acquiring large poorly trained dogs and it's making me nervous.  We also have coyotes to worry about.

[Hiway]

You're familiar with the term The three S's ?




Shoot, Shovel & Shut-up!  ( eliminate the problem at the source )

[ferritlove]

Yah, that would help with the neighbor situation but there's seemingly an unlimited supply of coyote.

[arcticwolf]

I would personally vote Anatolian or Kangal



Added bonus with a kangal... neighbors, thieves, fence hoppers, and such will not be a problem

[ferritlove]

Another question on Donkeys and Mules, since the subject was broached... which of the two are more likely to be receptive to extra-species "advances" ?

[caikgoch]

9 hours ago, ferritlove said:




Another question on Donkeys and Mules, since the subject was broached... which of the two are more likely to be receptive to extra-species "advances" ?

A Donkey will screw anything that he can catch, literally.     I've watched a neighbor's two Donkeys breed his cows for years.     




For any animal to be an effective guardian, they must be imprinted on the species they are to guard.    Do *NOT* get a pair (male and female) of Donkeys.        They will form their own little herd and leave the other livestock to fend for themselves.




And if you are there tending your livestock as the Donkeys grow up with them, you will be included in the imprinting.        Be warned!      They are notoriously horny little fucks.      

[ferritlove]

Thanks Caikgoch!  I will probably go with a jenny donkey for lower potential aggression towards my flock, as well as the fact that I like the ladies.

[caikgoch]

17 minutes ago, ferritlove said:




Thanks Caikgoch!  I will probably go with a jenny donkey for lower potential aggression towards my flock, as well as the fact that I like the ladies.

That was what I was expecting.      Just remember that they are equines and will need a herd.     They can mostly buddy up with whoever they are guarding but if you are their stud, they will expect stud level performance every few weeks for most of the year.

[DingoJay]

I'll admit that I'm no expert, but I've heard that llamas are decent flock guardians.  I do know for sure that they're NOT fond of dogs.  Unwelcome neighbor dogs and probably coyotes would likely get kicked and/or stomped.  I suspect llamas and their kin are rather expensive, though.