I like the neck knife for 2 reasons; extra pocket/belt real estate and ambidextrous access. I have a constant battle for pocket and belt space. My preference for 4"+ carry knives is not new, but my EDC gets out of hand. Samsung Note 4 in an Otterbox on the left G26 or Xdm 45 IWB on the right...
I deliberately stopped watching the news for 2 months and the first story I read was about the selloff. I can tell you it was nice not knowing what was going on.
+1 on securing the ingress points. It may be easiest to devise a one way access point and let them leave on their own when hungry. The rest can be mopped up with a trap inside the barn.
There are a multitude of good options out there, but I'm currently a fan of the Cold Steel Talwar. Solid construction, wavable blade, grippy g10 handles, deep pocket carry, and a nasty curved blade. Spartan is also a good option. Spyderco endura. I've loved my Griptilian for for over 12 years.