Best Kind Of Goose!!!!

[sandyj]

I am looking to get a goose. I would like one that is gentle, but will also watch over my chicken flock. I've heard that 1 goose can be good to have to scare off predators. Will only one be lonely without another of her kind or will the chickens be good substitutes?

sandyj

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

Hi,
I would not just keep one. I would have at least a pair. I like the Roman Tufted and Sebbies...will they keep my chickens out of danger? I doubt it. They "warn" cats and dogs away from the "flock" - but more than one determined dog or coyote or fox...and I think they've got trouble. I would also recommend locking EVERYTHING up after dark. Including the geese. Good Luck - enjoy your flock!

 

[Kim65]

Get a pair of geese, preferable male and female, but two of the same sex will bond. Raise them WITH the chickens so they think chickens are part of their flock.

Geese seem to deter hawks and eagles (full grown geese). I didn't know this, when I had a big flock of both chickens and geese and NEVER had a hawk attack in spite of how thick they were in the area.

A full grown, aggressive goose will chase off a cat or medium sized dog, but two dogs together will take out a goose in a second.

Geese "sound off" to intruders in the environment, but they can't be counted on to actually defend. They are prey animals.

It will add a layer of protection for your chickens, just realize it's not going to be like a guardian dog

or a predator proof enclosure.

I think EVERYONE should have geese

and I am terribly biased!

 

[Kim65]

Oh, you asked about KINDS too

I've had a flock of Toulouse, who prowled the grounds, some of the ganders were pretty aggressive. I've heard African geese and Embdens are the biggest geese and the most aggressive geese in general. There are exceptions in individual geese, of course.

A goose may protect the chickens from YOU. Egg gathering may get complicated.

A supposedly NONaggressive breed of geese are the Pilgrims, American buffs, and I *think* Chinese (who are very very loud). They will still sound off and are big enough to deter hawks and cats and smaller dogs, and are more mellow.

I have two American goslings now and see a difference already, they are less aggressive, they don't pick fights with my dog the way the Toulouse did. Yet, anyway.

Don't overthink it too much, you can't protect your chickens completely with anything but a guardian dog or a predator proof pen. Geese will add a layer of protection because they make a lot of noise at intruders, but can't stop them.

 

[Wifezilla]

Africans are HUGE. Beautiful birds.

 

[banter]

We have many hawks and also eagles in Maine. I am convinced the geese scare them off by shear size and the volume of their honking. So far I've lost no poultry-knock on wood!

 

[Cottage Rose]

I wouldn't depend on geese for predator control.
I have Coopers Hawks that have killed 2 chickens this year that free range with my geese.
Get a LGD if you want predator protection.