Geese & Emu to gaurd chickens?

[Little Farm Girl]

Since it didn't seem like a LGD was going to work for us, We've been recommended geese and emu. What are yalls experiences with geese and emu to guard chickens? Our main predators are foxes and Hawks. We need all the advice, options, info we can get! Thanks!

The emu/geese would sleep inside the big barn with the chickens, and free range with them during the day.

 

[The Phantom]

@Pyxis

 

[123RedBeard]

Foxes and coyotes say geese tastes like chicken ...

Don't know about emu's ...

 

[paneubert]

How much property do you have and how high are your fences? The Emu will jump most fences (they are tall birds), and run away. They also need acreage to run, and are also not solitary birds and need "friend(s)".

Go over and talk to the people at:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/ostriches-emu-rheas.49/

 

[Little Farm Girl]

How much property do you have and how high are your fences? The Emu will jump most fences (they are tall birds), and run away. They also need acreage to run, and are also not solitary birds and need "friend(s)".

Go over and talk to the people at:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/ostriches-emu-rheas.49/

We are on 7 acres, but the chickens are on about 1-2 acres. We have a 6 foot chainlink fence, but we free range our chickens during the day.

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

Geese will alert of predators and are great alarm systems, but as far as guarding goes, they can easily be preyed in as well.

Like stated above, emus need another emu as a companion and they cannot be free ranged.

 

[Henry&Friends]

Guniea fowl supposedly make good alarm calls, and can be brooded alongside a batch of chicks. I see mine herd my pullets into the coop at night. We feed them what we feed our flock. They’d probably be cheaper to buy and raise than an emu, so you might consider getting a handful.

 

[Little Farm Girl]

Geese will alert of predators and are great alarm systems, but as far as guarding goes, they can easily be preyed in as well.

Like stated above, emus need another emu as a companion and they cannot be free ranged.

Got it, thanks!

 

[Little Farm Girl]

Guniea fowl supposedly make good alarm calls, and can be brooded alongside a batch of chicks. I see mine herd my pullets into the coop at night. We feed them what we feed our flock. They’d probably be cheaper to buy and raise than an emu, so you might consider getting a handful.

We've had guineua before that we've raised with chicks, and the always end up chasing and hurting our hens...

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

We've had bunnies before that we've raised with chicks, and the always end up chasing and hurting our hens...

Oh my! Yes never raise rabbits with chicks or any poultry!