BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Other BackYard Poultry › Geese › Goose for Protection?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Goose for Protection?

post #1 of 14
2/18/12 at 8:14pm
Thread Starter 

Ok this may be a stupid question but it came up today. I heard that geese are can/are used for protecting flocks of chickens/ducks from dogs, feral cats, and large wild cats(bob cats,cougers, ect.) and deters them too. Any truth to this?

2 Indian Runner Girls, 6 hens,1 Roo, 3 dogs, 4 cats.

Reply

2 Indian Runner Girls, 6 hens,1 Roo, 3 dogs, 4 cats.

Reply
post #2 of 14
2/19/12 at 6:20am

I would think it would take a group of ganders at the least and they wouldn't be able to protect from cougers.  My male golden retriever wasn't at all intimidated by my gander.  He got ahold of the gander (Chinese Brown) and we thought the gander was a goner.  We finally managed to catch the two of them after chasing them all over the pasture and seperate them.  The dog was coming out on top in this instance. The geese will make a very large racket to let you know something is close by during the day so they will alert you if you are keeping an eye out for a preditor and have a rifle to shoot it when it shows up.

Littledear

Reply

Littledear

Reply
post #3 of 14
2/19/12 at 7:44am

While my geese are great sentinels, they can be chased away or spooked into flight by a small dog.  They are prey animals.

My menagerie includes 4 horses, 4 dogs, and 2 cats.
Geese: 8 dewlap toulouse (buff & grey), 5 african, 4 utility toulouse, and 2 african/toulouse
Ducks: 11 anconas, 3 cayugas, and 2 silver appleyards.
Reply
My menagerie includes 4 horses, 4 dogs, and 2 cats.
Geese: 8 dewlap toulouse (buff & grey), 5 african, 4 utility toulouse, and 2 african/toulouse
Ducks: 11 anconas, 3 cayugas, and 2 silver appleyards.
Reply
post #4 of 14
2/19/12 at 10:14am

As a warning system geese are great, but that is about the extent of their protective capabilities.

Friends are the family you make for yourself.
There are no coincidences- only providences.
Reply
Friends are the family you make for yourself.
There are no coincidences- only providences.
Reply
post #5 of 14
2/19/12 at 10:34am
Thread Starter 

Thats what i though guys thanks. I have 2 ducks that are great alerters VERY loud lol Although I think we may get a goose to add to the alert system. Any recommendations? I was thinking an Embden female(not sure what they are called) as they are good layers too.

2 Indian Runner Girls, 6 hens,1 Roo, 3 dogs, 4 cats.

Reply

2 Indian Runner Girls, 6 hens,1 Roo, 3 dogs, 4 cats.

Reply
post #6 of 14
2/19/12 at 11:51am

Why not? There are several prisons that use them as alarm system

Chickenless in Kansas. Proud owner of a  lazy cat, a bossy mini Wienerdog and a dorky Basset puppy. Still trying to figure out how to cure my chickenfever.
Reply
Chickenless in Kansas. Proud owner of a  lazy cat, a bossy mini Wienerdog and a dorky Basset puppy. Still trying to figure out how to cure my chickenfever.
Reply
post #7 of 14
2/19/12 at 11:53am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by conny63malies View Post

Why not? There are several prisons that use them as alarm system



Really? That's quite interesting lol We have also decided we are going to get a male and female Embden and raise babies for meat birds. We're going to be ordering from Metzer.

2 Indian Runner Girls, 6 hens,1 Roo, 3 dogs, 4 cats.

Reply

2 Indian Runner Girls, 6 hens,1 Roo, 3 dogs, 4 cats.

Reply
post #8 of 14
2/19/12 at 12:01pm

I agree with others, great for alarm, but I wouldn't trust them against a major predator.  They might also be good against human intruders/tresspassers who might not know anything about geese and be afraid of them.  But, if it comes to a fight, they will most likely run away.

Killdeers, phoebes and finches (My bird blog)

God bless baby killdeers and ducklings   

Reply

Killdeers, phoebes and finches (My bird blog)

God bless baby killdeers and ducklings   

Reply
post #9 of 14
2/19/12 at 12:47pm


I know of a swedish prison that has them running between two fences. Ever tried to sneak through a herd of geese? Isnt going to happen. I know there is a prison in brazil too that utilizes them as well. Not sure what we will pick. I'd like weeder geese, alarm geese... as big and mean as they get. But then in Ky people arent afraid of geese as much as they would be in a city. Maybe i should run two emus too.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by NamahKatana View Post



Really? That's quite interesting lol We have also decided we are going to get a male and female Embden and raise babies for meat birds. We're going to be ordering from Metzer.



 

Chickenless in Kansas. Proud owner of a  lazy cat, a bossy mini Wienerdog and a dorky Basset puppy. Still trying to figure out how to cure my chickenfever.
Reply
Chickenless in Kansas. Proud owner of a  lazy cat, a bossy mini Wienerdog and a dorky Basset puppy. Still trying to figure out how to cure my chickenfever.
Reply
post #10 of 14
2/19/12 at 11:36pm

Our embden gander has already chased off a very large dog and a fox short of a cougar I think the flock is safe with him although people are not safe from him either 

One Rooster 12 hens, 1 pair geese, 12  toddler ducks, 1 toddler gander, 2 Baby geese, 2 doe rabbits, 1 buck rabbit, 10 baby rabbits, 3 dogs and eggs in bator

 

Reply

One Rooster 12 hens, 1 pair geese, 12  toddler ducks, 1 toddler gander, 2 Baby geese, 2 doe rabbits, 1 buck rabbit, 10 baby rabbits, 3 dogs and eggs in bator

 

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Geese
BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Other BackYard Poultry › Geese › Goose for Protection?