I cried when I heard this....

Well, unless I did have that type of situation set up with a guard dog, I would never be able to sleep at night with my goats not locked up securely. We have lost two *herds* to night time dogs mauling them- the first time, I went out to the barn to milk to find them all dead and the second time (after they were locked up at night, the dogs were pit bulls and ripped two windows off their frames and then dug under the barn to get in!) we heard them being attacked and ran out and were able to save one kid-the other alive kid had to be put down and the mothers were dead. It was horrible. So, I will take my chances with the barn fire because frankly, my goats are in cement brick walls, locked up like Fort Knox here. Everything about that experience was terrifying and horrible........We did have to move because of what happened after the attack- the neighbors and owners of the dogs lost in court and harrased us so much we did not feel safe in our home anymore. Sorry, a little off topic, but I wanted to share that I feel keeping them open at night can have its own very real dangers........

I'm pretty sure that this fellow has only had these goats for a month or so.

An acquaintance of mine in New York purchased a few from him. These goats had just come up from Oklahoma where they were puchased from a broker who sells something similar to a franchise. His deal is he will sell 150 or so goats to a new person with the understanding that this fellow can resell the goats for $25.00 more than what his cost was.

Such a tragedy!

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Ken In Maine
www.goatschool.com

I have effectively and successfully dealt with these very real concerns. I am so sorry you have lost animals to dogs.

My goats have access all day and night to five+ acre fields that are fortified with electric fence. I am certain the electric fence has turned away coyotes and dogs. I also constantly, as long as the power is flowing!, have a baby monitor on at the barn so I can hear all noises. More than once I have flown to the barn when hearing a disturbing noise, mainly to help a hung up or caught baby goat.

In 30 years of goat keeping, I have never lost an animal to predators, only to my own stupidity. My first two goats were tethered, and I lost two to worms. We have no dogs, of any kind.

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I like to pay taxes. With them I buy civilization.
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Of course if the proper precautions are not taken, then there are dangers in keeping them in or letting the barn stay open at night. Livestock husbandry is all about minimalizing risks to the animals health. I personally will *never* be without my LGD's. And with them, I can relax and know that my goats are safe. The herd usually sleeps outside at night under a large oak tree quite a distance from the barn. The dogs sleep right with them.

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Emily Dixon
Ozark Jewels
Nubians & Lamanchas
www.ozarkjewels.net

"Remember, no man is a failure, who has friends" -Clarence

Like Emily, our dogs are ALWAYS in with the goats. I'm more afraid of a barn fire, then late night dog attacks. Everyone has access to either the big barn or smaller barns within penned areas. Most nights, they choose to sleep out on the ground, rather then in the buildings. There is enough room so that hopefully, if a fire were to break out, they would be able to get out and far enough away to survive. Our barn and all our pens are right up at the house. I have more flies in the house to deal with, but it's a good trade off, I get to sleep well at night knowing I can hear if Bob & Lola start the *serious* barking or if a goat calls out. This set-up works well for us. Even the chicken coop is right out in the back yard (the LGDS are able to also get inside the coop if the birds have an intruder. I don't close the door to the coop at night.. The only attempted night attack , which has happened once, was by a young coon.... he didn't get a second try thanks to Bob Barker) We are having at least one cougar prowling the area. (neighbors saw it night before last, I saw it midway back on our property last night, along a tree line, even knowing it's out in our woods, I still don't worry about the goats really, not with the dogs) Without the dogs on duty... I am afraid, I have the whole herd in the bedroom :baby04: every night... okay, not really, but I'd be sleeping in the barn lot...
susie, mo ozarks

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"My darling girl, when are you going to understand that "normal" is not necessarily a virtue? It rather denotes a lack of courage."
http://www.agesagoacresnubians.com/