You need to learn to remove the predators. Owls are easy coyote call baby rabbit at breaking day then practice shoot shovel and shut up. Coyote call or trap kill skin and sell fur. This homestead movement wants to act like your still in town but live in the country. You ether add the coyotes to cash flow or spend big money fencing them out
Yep, I agree with that! Where we live we have a lot of different predators. Never had one try to run straight through an electric netting fence. Thankful he wasn't successful. Thank you for your comment, I appreciate it.
I have gotten so irritated at some of the "big name" YT "influencers" in the homesteading community because they use chicken wire for their coops. NEVER, EVER, use chicken wire for a coop!! I used what they call rat wire around here. Caught an owl perched on a low branch in a tree right next to my coop the other morning. Freaking out my girls! I knew they were safe, there was no way for that owl to get anywhere close to them. I do NOT like those net fences, especially for permanent situations. I know it's expensive, but the best is to either have a good permanent boundary fence, or a secure, permanent fence to coral the livestock at night. I free range my goats during the day (most people can not do what I do), but they have an LGD that runs with them. If she senses danger she will herd them back to home base and then deal with the danger. At night I have a sheep/goat woven wire fenced in pen where they stay along with the dog. (would like to add electric to it, as soon as I can get an electrician to run power from the pole) Have not lost any to predation, yet. And yes, we have coyotes, bobcats, and bears around.
I think what you are calling rat wire is what we call hardware cloth. I use it for the bottom of my quail cages. Works well. I haven't had a problem with anything actually getting to my chickens through the chicken wire. It's been extremely affective. .My chickens free range during the day and are shut in coop at night. Unfortunately the rooster I lost was in a different cage and was going into the freezer but when owl got near him he panicked and jumping around knocked the latch open. Yes, the hardware cloth (rat wire) can be really good to use. If you are looking to use hotwire maybe look into a solar fence Energizer. We use one from Premier 1 supplies. We have 42 acres so once I finish my paddocks I won't be using the netting for the sheep. We are considering a LGD for the near future. Chicken wire works well for millions of people so it is a great inexpensive option but rat wire would definitely help with extra security for sure. Thank you for your input, I really appreciate it.
@@CountryDreamnHomestead To clarify, "rat wire" is 1"x2" welded wire. Hardware cloth is smaller. I have seen chicken wire torn open by a predator. Hope you never experience it. I have used solar before. Not as strong for the price. Better than nothing in areas where there is no access to grid power. A good LGD is worth their weight in gold!
Hmmm interesting, I tried looking it up so I could see what you're referring to but all that comes up is hardware cloth. I'll keep looking. We live off grid so the solar Energizer works well for us. A lot of big sheep ranchers use them for remote areas. The one we have is stronger and more efficient and easier to ground than a lot of the ac ones. I wouldn't rule them out, especially if you are rotational grazing. I'll keep looking for the rat wire. Thanks for the info.
Thought about it already. Maybe when I get my barbed wire pasture finished. I'll have to find the right one though because donkeys have been known to kill sheep and even more so lambs. Not as simple as it might seem but have definitely considered it. Thanks for your input, I appreciate it.
I agree 100%. They can be a nuisance sometimes, especially out here where we live. Everything has been quiet ever since I put in some new precautions. Thanks for joining us and thank you for your comment, I really appreciate it. Have a great weekend.
I think I'm gonna do that. I have a large live trap. I set one before and something ripped the door completely off of it. I'll try it again though. Thanks for your input, I appreciate it.
We've considered getting one. We have two dogs now but not trained to be lsgd. We may get one in the future but it hasn't been needed. We've been using electric fence netting doing rotational grazing. It has kept everything out, including the last predator that actually charged it probably not even knowing it was there until it hit it. Once I get the permanent paddocks done there won't be any fence being knocked down. When the herd gets bigger will probably get a lsgd though. Thank you for your comment, I appreciate it.
@@CountryDreamnHomestead glad they are In The plans I was loosing stock lefr and right and i was living on the property loosing sleep as i would get up at nite to chase off or shoot whatever predator chose to come in that nite.. finally hot the pups in at about 3months old they trained themselves and did not loose anymore stock till the dogs went away with us for a week the predators did no go far away, brought the dogs back problem stopped again except for a few pesky owls that took some young turkeys at nite while dogs were on fenceline patrol
Flashlight in the eyes of the owl makes them docile so you can remove them....My son had one get in his chicken coop after killing his female duck....It was roosting with the chickens after the duck kill....🤦♀️
Hate to break it to you, but that's just life out in the country. If you are going to have livestock, you need to have temperamental dogs, such as one or two sheep dogs. Unfortunately, that will take some time, because you need to get them as pups and raise them with your livestock, unless you can find adults that have been raised to protect livestock. It's best to get them as pups though and raise them with your sheep, so they bond, especially if you plan to pasture your sheep. As adults, they will stay with and protect your sheep. Sheep dogs were bred to fend off wolves and just two can effectively keep a pack at bay. Your turkey enclosure is too small. They have no room to run or get into the air. Turkeys can fly, just not far. A Tom can mount an effective defense against even coyotes, but it needs to be able to hit and run. The way you have your enclosure, your turkeys are cornered and easy prey. My neighbor free ranges chickens. Believe it or not, he actually uses Peacocks for predator defense. One if a predator is around, you will know it, even in the dead of night. Two, peacocks will flock with your birds, not harm them, and are very aggressive towards threats. When they fan their tails, they look much larger, which confuses predators. Additionally, you absolutely need a good rifle with a thermal sight or other option for night sighting. It's nearly impossible to get a good shot off or even spot a target just using a light at night. Some people are against guns, but the reality is, that is just part of having livestock. You have to have a way of dispatching predators. If you are dead set against firearms, raising/keeping livestock and/or country life probably isn't the life for you. You need to check the laws in your state though. Many States do not allow the use of any night sight for hunting, but do allow them for use in protecting livestock. In other words, you cannot actively hunt predators with a thermal or night sight in some states, but you can use such sights in the defense of livestock. In some states, you can actively hunt predators and nuisance animals like wild hogs with night sights.
Haha that's okay, you are not breaking anything to me. I've lived in the country most of my life and spent many years on a working farm so I am very familiar with livestock. I'm an avid hunter so know all about firearms as well as bow hunting. The turkeys enclosure is fine, they free range a lot so i don't need the enclosure to be any bigger right now, maybe if I get more. I haven't had any more issues after repairing the gate to there pen, it was just getting worn out so the Tom was able to break through it. He and the owl were going at it in wide open space. He did hold his own. We live more in a wilderness where we have more predators than most. A lot of people think that where they live is country but to us it would be big city life. We have considered lsgd's and may get one in the future. Thank you for your input, I agree with what you said. I hope you have a great rest of your day.
Love your views on off grid living Mark.Very informative!
Thank you!
When i built my chicken coop and run i was told it was over kill. But I've never lost a chicken to a predator.
I think overkill is they way to go. Better safe than sorry. Thank you for your comment, I appreciate it.
Not a problem. Thank you for your video's.
Hope and wish in one hand, shit in the other, see witch one fills up first! DA city boy!
City boy? Couldn't be more wrong! Have a great weekend key board commando! Haha
Nice video.
Thank you!
You need to learn to remove the predators. Owls are easy coyote call baby rabbit at breaking day then practice shoot shovel and shut up. Coyote call or trap kill skin and sell fur. This homestead movement wants to act like your still in town but live in the country. You ether add the coyotes to cash flow or spend big money fencing them out
You are their protector.Gotta tighten up.
Yep, I agree with that! Where we live we have a lot of different predators. Never had one try to run straight through an electric netting fence. Thankful he wasn't successful. Thank you for your comment, I appreciate it.
I have gotten so irritated at some of the "big name" YT "influencers" in the homesteading community because they use chicken wire for their coops. NEVER, EVER, use chicken wire for a coop!! I used what they call rat wire around here. Caught an owl perched on a low branch in a tree right next to my coop the other morning. Freaking out my girls! I knew they were safe, there was no way for that owl to get anywhere close to them.
I do NOT like those net fences, especially for permanent situations. I know it's expensive, but the best is to either have a good permanent boundary fence, or a secure, permanent fence to coral the livestock at night. I free range my goats during the day (most people can not do what I do), but they have an LGD that runs with them. If she senses danger she will herd them back to home base and then deal with the danger. At night I have a sheep/goat woven wire fenced in pen where they stay along with the dog. (would like to add electric to it, as soon as I can get an electrician to run power from the pole) Have not lost any to predation, yet. And yes, we have coyotes, bobcats, and bears around.
I think what you are calling rat wire is what we call hardware cloth. I use it for the bottom of my quail cages. Works well. I haven't had a problem with anything actually getting to my chickens through the chicken wire. It's been extremely affective. .My chickens free range during the day and are shut in coop at night. Unfortunately the rooster I lost was in a different cage and was going into the freezer but when owl got near him he panicked and jumping around knocked the latch open. Yes, the hardware cloth (rat wire) can be really good to use. If you are looking to use hotwire maybe look into a solar fence Energizer. We use one from Premier 1 supplies. We have 42 acres so once I finish my paddocks I won't be using the netting for the sheep. We are considering a LGD for the near future. Chicken wire works well for millions of people so it is a great inexpensive option but rat wire would definitely help with extra security for sure. Thank you for your input, I really appreciate it.
@@CountryDreamnHomestead To clarify, "rat wire" is 1"x2" welded wire. Hardware cloth is smaller. I have seen chicken wire torn open by a predator. Hope you never experience it.
I have used solar before. Not as strong for the price. Better than nothing in areas where there is no access to grid power.
A good LGD is worth their weight in gold!
Hmmm interesting, I tried looking it up so I could see what you're referring to but all that comes up is hardware cloth. I'll keep looking. We live off grid so the solar Energizer works well for us. A lot of big sheep ranchers use them for remote areas. The one we have is stronger and more efficient and easier to ground than a lot of the ac ones. I wouldn't rule them out, especially if you are rotational grazing. I'll keep looking for the rat wire. Thanks for the info.
Very simple get a donkey...no more problems.
Thought about it already. Maybe when I get my barbed wire pasture finished. I'll have to find the right one though because donkeys have been known to kill sheep and even more so lambs. Not as simple as it might seem but have definitely considered it. Thanks for your input, I appreciate it.
A lot of people have llamas to protect sheep.
It's my first time here. Always consider predators.
I agree 100%. They can be a nuisance sometimes, especially out here where we live. Everything has been quiet ever since I put in some new precautions. Thanks for joining us and thank you for your comment, I really appreciate it. Have a great weekend.
Night vision
Night cameras
night watch
That sucks man
Set Traps.
I think I'm gonna do that. I have a large live trap. I set one before and something ripped the door completely off of it. I'll try it again though. Thanks for your input, I appreciate it.
Game cameras
So where are pyranees or other lgds
We've considered getting one. We have two dogs now but not trained to be lsgd. We may get one in the future but it hasn't been needed. We've been using electric fence netting doing rotational grazing. It has kept everything out, including the last predator that actually charged it probably not even knowing it was there until it hit it. Once I get the permanent paddocks done there won't be any fence being knocked down. When the herd gets bigger will probably get a lsgd though. Thank you for your comment, I appreciate it.
@@CountryDreamnHomestead glad they are In The plans I was loosing stock lefr and right and i was living on the property loosing sleep as i would get up at nite to chase off or shoot whatever predator chose to come in that nite.. finally hot the pups in at about 3months old they trained themselves and did not loose anymore stock till the dogs went away with us for a week the predators did no go far away, brought the dogs back problem stopped again except for a few pesky owls that took some young turkeys at nite while dogs were on fenceline patrol
Flashlight in the eyes of the owl makes them docile so you can remove them....My son had one get in his chicken coop after killing his female duck....It was roosting with the chickens after the duck kill....🤦♀️
I didn't know that about a flashlight, thank you for the info I appreciate it.
@@CountryDreamnHomestead ....It kinda puts them in a temporary trans...🤷♀️
Cool! That's good to know.
Hate to break it to you, but that's just life out in the country. If you are going to have livestock, you need to have temperamental dogs, such as one or two sheep dogs. Unfortunately, that will take some time, because you need to get them as pups and raise them with your livestock, unless you can find adults that have been raised to protect livestock. It's best to get them as pups though and raise them with your sheep, so they bond, especially if you plan to pasture your sheep. As adults, they will stay with and protect your sheep. Sheep dogs were bred to fend off wolves and just two can effectively keep a pack at bay.
Your turkey enclosure is too small. They have no room to run or get into the air. Turkeys can fly, just not far. A Tom can mount an effective defense against even coyotes, but it needs to be able to hit and run. The way you have your enclosure, your turkeys are cornered and easy prey. My neighbor free ranges chickens. Believe it or not, he actually uses Peacocks for predator defense. One if a predator is around, you will know it, even in the dead of night. Two, peacocks will flock with your birds, not harm them, and are very aggressive towards threats. When they fan their tails, they look much larger, which confuses predators.
Additionally, you absolutely need a good rifle with a thermal sight or other option for night sighting. It's nearly impossible to get a good shot off or even spot a target just using a light at night. Some people are against guns, but the reality is, that is just part of having livestock. You have to have a way of dispatching predators. If you are dead set against firearms, raising/keeping livestock and/or country life probably isn't the life for you. You need to check the laws in your state though. Many States do not allow the use of any night sight for hunting, but do allow them for use in protecting livestock. In other words, you cannot actively hunt predators with a thermal or night sight in some states, but you can use such sights in the defense of livestock. In some states, you can actively hunt predators and nuisance animals like wild hogs with night sights.
Haha that's okay, you are not breaking anything to me. I've lived in the country most of my life and spent many years on a working farm so I am very familiar with livestock. I'm an avid hunter so know all about firearms as well as bow hunting. The turkeys enclosure is fine, they free range a lot so i don't need the enclosure to be any bigger right now, maybe if I get more. I haven't had any more issues after repairing the gate to there pen, it was just getting worn out so the Tom was able to break through it. He and the owl were going at it in wide open space. He did hold his own. We live more in a wilderness where we have more predators than most. A lot of people think that where they live is country but to us it would be big city life. We have considered lsgd's and may get one in the future. Thank you for your input, I agree with what you said. I hope you have a great rest of your day.