We have land that we do not live on yet and we want to put some goats on it to help clean it up. We have seen what we think are coyote tracks and someone told us to put a burro with the goats and it would help keep the coyotes away. Is this true?

-- Jo Lewter (jlewter@tnns.net), March 20, 2001

Answers

Yes it is true and also you can put llama's too to keep coyotes away. dale

-- dale (dgarr@fidnet.com), March 20, 2001.

Not all burros are good guard animals. My burro would rather kill goats AND coyotes (and geese, raccoons, bunnies, etc.) I believe this topic is well-covered in the archives.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), March 21, 2001.

Jo, Get a burro that has been raised with sheep or goats. Get only one. They are hed animals and will stay with the goats as long as there is only one donkey. After years of trouble with dogs and coyotes, we purchased a standard jenny and have had no more problems. (4years).

-- Terri Perry (teperry@stargate.net), March 21, 2001.

Agree with above that not ALL donks are good with goats/sheep. I've also heard that jennys are better... have also heard to get only one. It does make sense; if they have another donk, they'll naturally gravitate to pal around with them and forget about your goats. However, in any case, they're a bonified deathray for any kind of dog or coyote! I had a young jenny who had bead on any of my dogs if they went in the corral area... she eventually realized they were part of her farm, but never let them too close! So, watch out for your dogs! It actually became a game between the two.

If you get one, get a young jenny, put her in a pen close to the goats. She'll eventually start to feel like they are her herd (my theory: a bad friend is better than no friend at all). It's a matter of an educated guess as to just when you'll want to turn her out with them. I'm sure someone else will have better advice here.

The Navajos do this with dogs, by the way. They just put the pups in with the goats & sheep and they fend for themselves once they're out in the desert. The dogs eventually feel like the sheep are their family and will defend them to the death against coyotes. It's a pretty rough life for a dog, tho! It's not uncommon to see a herd of sheep out in the middle of nowhere up in the four corners area, and sure 'nuff, there's usually a rez dog or two with them. I've told them about using donkeys and they laugh at me! Good luck! dh in nm

-- debra in nm (dhaden@nmtr.unm.edu), March 21, 2001.

Yeppers - we have a jenny burro in with our goats. She's under 2 years old, and has made a wonderful protector, and midwife.... We also keep a pony in with the goats, but the pony and burro don't see eye to eye, so there is no gravitation. The burro is VERY careful about where she steps, especially now that we have 12 babies running around. She keeps the buck goat from trying to get into the shelter with the momma's, and she doesn't like the cats sneaking into their outside corral either..... She's never killed one, but, she grabs the scruff of their necks in her teeth and pins them to the ground until someone tells her to knock it off (the cats only go in the corral when we are out there).

Once my husband and I get our own place, and can bring my goats with me, we will be getting a burro too :)

-- Sarah Wilde (gilded_lily_1@yahoo.com), March 22, 2001.

There are breeders who raise donkeys specifically for guarding. When the donkeys are weaned, they are put in with stock ~ poultry, cattle, sheep, goats, etc. They can not see/smell other donkeys. They grow up with the stock. The Standards are used for guarding. Jennys or geldings make good guards. A jack who is entire is not a good choice; his mind is on other things! -G-

If you toss in any ol' donk with your critters, you could be asking for trouble, with maimed/killed stock.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), March 23, 2001.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention.. if you get a new pup, watch out for it closely because your donk will be out for blood till she realizes he's part of the family, and the pup won't be able to move FAST ENOUGH! Ay-dios! dh in nm

-- debra in nm (dhaden@nmtr.unm.edu), March 23, 2001.

A donkey will be ok but be very watchfull if you have kids. I had a wild burro that I adopted that got along fine with the sheep and goats. In the spring he killed a new kid and not long after took out a new lamb. Burro went bye-bye! ( I gave him to my blacksmith.)

-- Brenda Kenfield (bjk@gmavt.net), January 05, 2002.

Our two jennies were introduced young and are fine with the goats. Like I have said before they are friends with each other, don't bond with the goats, but they do keep anything out of the pasture, including hens. They somehow know goats are fine, but anything else is suspect. The idea of the donkey bonding with the goats, like a dog would, isn't likely. They don't think the same as a guardian dog. If something is in the pasture they go after it because it is there, not because it will harm the goats. The dogs stay and protect the herd, and only after the goats ran to the barn will our dog then attack the stray. Make sure you are deligent about what grain you pick for the goats as donkeys need little grain, and some goat grains meds will make the donkeys sick. We also have way to high of protein in our hay for the donkeys. A run in area where the goats can go in but the donkeys can't duck under works well, for feeding, haying and minerals. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 05, 2002.