Llamas or Donkeys for watching my geese and guineas?

[Fruity's Group]

We have had a few geese disappear the past few days, we think a lynx is coming. In that pasture is a pony, the geese, and soon we will have out there many guineas and some alpacas. This pasture is about 1.5-2 acres and the farthest pasture from the house, about 1000+ feet. We cannot see what's going on out there from the house.

We need one or more pasture guardians for them. We already have 4 livestock guardian dogs on the property and do not want anymore. 2 of them are in a pasture with sheep, and 2 stay near the house and main chicken area. Do you have any recommendations as to which would be better for this pasture, donkey(s), llama(s) or both? We have another pasture out there we could rotate for year round grass.

I am hoping for some animals that are people-tolerant, or just plain friendly. I have 2 children and their friends come over, so we need gentle animals that are tough on predators. Please advise which to focus on and how many, and maybe where I would find them to purchase? I live in Northwest Arkansas. Thanks!

 

[keesmom]

I have no personal experience with either but my daughter wants a llama after hearing about this last week:

http://wgme.com/news/local/new-hampshire-llama-helps-protect-ducks-from-wild-bear

This particular llama is friendly and hung out on the golf course for some selfies too...

 

[The Moonshiner]

We have a couple mini donkeys and they're pretty useless imo for guarding.
We got one to guard our goats. Donkey hated goats and chased, kicked and stomped at them. She also killed a muscovy drake stomping on it. We got a second for her a companion. He was way friendlier and easy going but still didn't do any guarding.
They are both in a pasture that runs down one side of our property. Thee only side our dogs can't get to and it happens to be the side that we still have predators cross.
Ours do not like dogs or coyotes in their pasture but foxes, feral cats, coons etc can walk right through without them caring 90% of the time.

 

[Zoomie]

Having experience with both... I would suggest a donkey. HOWEVER. Just because an animal is a donkey does not mean that it makes a good guardian!!! It's a talent, like singing is for us. Not all of us are very good at singing. (Raises hand.)

These are the reasons: Donkeys are bigger and can stand up to more threats. So, don't get a mini. Get a standard or a mammoth. I recommend a gelding or a jenny. Donkeys can be very friendly, but make sure the donkey is trained to lift its feet for trimming, and is halter trained; you will need to have the feet trimmed occasionally, and you may need to lead the donkey somewhere. Also make sure the donkey in question has proven itself as a guardian. Some of them will stand by and watch their charges killed and do nothing.

I've known of donkeys who chased off bears; a friend had one who had killed 15 dogs and 12 coyotes **that she knew of** or in other words found the smashed carcasses in the pasture with her sheep; there may have been others who managed to get out and wander off and die elsewhere. As a general rule donkeys are good guardians but again, make sure the donkey can do the work before you pay out the cold hard cash.

 

[Trish1974]

We have a couple mini donkeys and they're pretty useless imo for guarding

X2