Upon researching the homes available for Hearthfire, I can only conclude that they were poorly thought out. Oh, the houses themselves are a-okay, but their defences are non-existent! Lakeview has the potential to be the best home in the game, but as it seems that it comes under constant attack it really needed walls and guards defending it, not just leave it open to all the creatures around. And the other two homes fare little better. I think it would've been a good idea if adding defences was an optional upgrade for the Hearthfire homes, seeing that they're in the middle of nowhere rather than in towns like the vanilla homes. As things stand these homes would be the last places I'd choose to leave a family.

My cow guards my house, I don't know what you're talking about.

Don't mess with Nord cows.

This.

Also imho Lakeview is the worst of the three, even just regarding bugs aside from the increased giant/bandit/spider/wolf/necromancer (sort of) threats.

I'm a Heljarchen kind of guy myself, although I wish they positioned it a bit more IN THE PALE rather than the furthest southern extent of its border (basically Whiterun).

Yes, A fortification option would have been nice. I've looked at some of the Mods people have done to address that, but sadly as a console player those Mods aren't available to me.. look good though.