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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 71
When a coyote attacks it usually attacks at the throat, but they have been known to grab at the haunch, bite the top of the neck, or attack in the soft flesh under the belly. Their preference is for lambs rather than sheep unless they are desperate. Smaller lambs, old sheep, or crippled ewes are the most common victims rather than healthy middle aged ewes. If there is a set of twin lambs, the coyote will go for the smaller of the two. To protect your other lambs, put a livestock protection collar on the most vulnerable of your lambs, this protection collar contains a poison that the coyote ingests when it attacks the lamb's throat. The advantage of the collar is that it gets rid of the offender. Before using this collar check to see if it is legal to use them in your area.
Predator dogs:
These dogs can be more dangerous than coyotes, as one or two dogs can maim and destroy dozens of sheep in just one night, and this can really affect your profit for the year. Many farmers have been driven out of business on account of dogs. Dogs grab at any part of the sheep they can get hold of, however, sheep often survive dog attacks, but many are badly injured. It is not just the large dogs that cause the problem, small dogs that are too small to kill can cause heart failure in older ewes, and pregnant ewes to abort. A dog's feeding habit is similar to that of a coyote.
Other kinds of predators:
Foxes and wolves. A wolf will attack mature sheep and tend to hunt in packs of two to four animals.
Foxes on the other hand go for fairly small lambs.
Eagles and other birds of prey occasionally kill lambs. Their killing tactics are dropping out of the air at a high speed and closing their talons (sharp feet) into the head. Eagles will strip a carcass and just leave its victim's skin and backbone.
Check to see if there are any laws that prevent you from killing a predator.
GUARDIAN ANIMALS
Because sheep are docile animals it makes them easy victims. There are animals that become quite aggressive when predators invade their territory.
Dogs, ponies, donkeys, mules and cows can all be used as guardians.
Predator dogs:
These dogs can be more dangerous than coyotes, as one or two dogs can maim and destroy dozens of sheep in just one night, and this can really affect your profit for the year. Many farmers have been driven out of business on account of dogs. Dogs grab at any part of the sheep they can get hold of, however, sheep often survive dog attacks, but many are badly injured. It is not just the large dogs that cause the problem, small dogs that are too small to kill can cause heart failure in older ewes, and pregnant ewes to abort. A dog's feeding habit is similar to that of a coyote.
Other kinds of predators:
Foxes and wolves. A wolf will attack mature sheep and tend to hunt in packs of two to four animals.
Foxes on the other hand go for fairly small lambs.
Eagles and other birds of prey occasionally kill lambs. Their killing tactics are dropping out of the air at a high speed and closing their talons (sharp feet) into the head. Eagles will strip a carcass and just leave its victim's skin and backbone.
Check to see if there are any laws that prevent you from killing a predator.
GUARDIAN ANIMALS
Because sheep are docile animals it makes them easy victims. There are animals that become quite aggressive when predators invade their territory.
Dogs, ponies, donkeys, mules and cows can all be used as guardians.