I beg to differ...
Llamas make fierce guard animals and they defend their territory and
charges as well as a dog -- perhaps even better. (I hope it's not
blasphemous to say such a thing here.) Llamas patrol the fence line,
herd their charges to safety, stand between the preditor and the flock.
Even attacking the predator if need be. Part of the reason that llamas
are good is that they are very territorial and have an intense dislike
of canines (dogs, coyote, fox) and they are good at repelling them.
Maybe a bear would overcome a llama but not a fox. The llama has plenty
of size to deter predators too. They need to be trained as such, but
they are definitely effective guard animals. Perhaps they aren't used
with chickens, but they are used with other animals (i.e., goats and sheep).
My cousins in Colorado routinely rent out their goats to fields where
the owner wants it "mowed." They set up a portable electric fence and
the goats stay for weeks to a month at a time. A llama can be housed
with the goats and find food along with the goats. It would be
impossible to have a guard dog with the goats 24/7 in such a
circumstance. An electric fence can stop working so not quite safe
enough against predators . My cousins say that the llama is a perfect
guard animal in this situation. They have essentially no losses when
using the llama.
Hence the question... do people ever use llamas as guard animals for
chickens?
Llamas may be prey animals, but don't tell them that. They will spit in
your face! <grin> :p
Linda
On 7/25/2013 2:39 AM, pondkeep2000 wrote:
>
> Yes some have but why?? You would be using a prey as a guardian when
> it is far better to use a predator to guard. When you use a prey
> animal as a livestock guardian they are not as determined to protect
> their charges as a true LGD. More often then not they are trying to
> defend themselves and leave their charges undefended.
>
> Pete
> Moderator
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