Jan Dohner News Today

Are coyotes stealing your sheep? Maybe you need a guard donkey.

Get tips on training livestock guardian dogs, from housing, bonding with stock or poultry, and socialization with children and family dogs.

When a livestock guardian dog is not right for your farm, what other choices do you have? Jan Dohner takes an honest look at another option: the guardian llama.

Why are coyotes afraid of donkeys? Although used less commonly than dogs or llamas, a guard donkey can be an excellent guardian against coyotes or other predators.

The hardy, multipurpose Dominique chickens that came to the New World with the Pilgrims and later traveled in pioneer saddlebags to help settle the West were once too numerous to count; by 1990 a mere 500 hens survived. This is but a single example of the diminishing diversity of farm animals: half of once-common livestock breeds are endangered, others are already extinct. The need to preserve farm animal diversity is increasingly urgent, says the author of this definitive book on endangered br...

Photo by  Kelly Patterson For the past few years, each spring I do a mini-fundraiser and sell veggie starts to promote growing your own food. This year, I donated the money to Open Table, which helps feed those in need. The year before, I donated the money to the animal shelter from which we rescued one of our dogs. It’s nothing big, but every little thing counts. In my town, I work to promote growing your own food to be more self-sufficient and sustainable. I also advocate for bees and othe...