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| Kona our new Guard |
Kona is our new guard for the flock. While we have been very fortunate to have no trouble so far with coyotes, wolves, bears or domestic dogs hassling the flock, we are also aware that prevention is a much better option than trying to "fix" the problem once it occurs. While we toyed with the idea of a guard dog, I wasn't sure that our operation could successfully keep a dog confined, and, of course, content. A guard llama seemed a perfect solution. So, with a little help from our good friend Dee Heinrich, we found and purchased Kona.
Since we move our sheep twice daily (once to pasture in the morning and again back home in the evening) with our border collies, Peat & Katrina, we weren't sure how Kona would respond to their presence. And what we've learned is that he is remarkably tolerant. I am no longer worried that he will injure them. However, we've also discovered that he definitely does not behave like a sheep! He behaves perfectly like a guard llama! This means that he sometimes acts like an independent thinker, which means when we are bringing the flock to and fro, he will split from the group and look for the greener pastures. Our remedy was to keep Kona on a lead rope until it is crystal clear that he is committed to following the sheep. This has worked well, along with making sure we reinforce his correct decisions. He loves grain, and making it available if and only when he moves with the group to and from pasture has worked quite well.
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| Kona sampling White Pine needles |
Kona was a 4H project so is quite familiar with being led on a line. He was also meticulously groomed when he arrived; before arrival here, he was recently sheared with a barrel cut(sheared around his mid-section) to keep him cooler during the rest of our hot, dry summer.
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Kona with "his" flock
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Kona is a valuable addition to the care and management of our flock. As long as he continues to help us meet our mission of keeping our flock healthy and free of damage (and not making his management another arduous task!), he will have a home here for a long time!
