Guard Geese?

[OneMountainAcres]

Will they eat the same feed the ducks eat? We have plenty of grass where they can free-range

Mine eat mostly grass but share the same feed that the ducks and chickens eat when they choose to eat it.

 

[Abraeri]

Thank you everyone for all the information! If there is anything else I should know please let me know! It seems like geese would be perfect for us. I am a little worried abut housing though, because the coop for our ducks is not that tall (maybe 2-3 feet) so will probably have to make the geese a separate coop or put a bigger addition to the duck coop.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Thank you everyone for all the information! If there is anything else I should know please let me know! It seems like geese would be perfect for us. I am a little worried abut housing though, because the coop for our ducks is not that tall (maybe 2-3 feet) so will probably have to make the geese a separate coop or put a bigger addition to the duck coop.

My geese just sleep in the run and I have to actualy put them there in the evening. I'm not sure if they would even go in a coop or not.

 

[Abraeri]

Our run isn't really predator proof so I wouldn't feel safe leaving them there.

 

[poultry person]

Two days ago one of our ducks was killed by a fox in the middle of the day while Hurricane Irma was passing through. We only found out about an hour later, through a video recording from a camera aimed toward where the ducks forage. We had never seen or expected a fox, especially in broad daylight. The ducks usually free-range all day, but ever since we have only let them out of their run when someone is there to watch. We want to be able to let our ducks free-range again and are looking for a way to protect them.

We heard that geese make great protectors/guards. Does this work? Can anyone give me details? For example, would the goose have to have been raised with the ducks for this to work?

Thank you,
abraeri

Yes! I have geese they are great chicken body guards they are loud and they are very sweet I have Embden geese:

But I suggest sabastopol geese they are very friendly and they will chase away predators:

and they have curly feathers!

 

[Abraeri]

There is someone selling geese about an hour away. They have Toulouse and African, but the African are of unknown sex (and really expensive ). I am thinking of getting a pair of Toulouse (male and female). Is this a good choice?

 

[LamarshFish]

IMO something like a single llama (read about them guarding livestock) or a purpose bred livestock guardian dog or two would be a much better choice.

Geese can be aggressive to predators, and likely can fend off a fox or at least give a fox enough of a problem to not make it worth the fox's while; however I would say a goose stands little chance against a coyote and zero chance against several coyotes.

 

[Lamaremybabies]

There is someone selling geese about an hour away. They have Toulouse and African, but the African are of unknown sex (and really expensive ). I am thinking of getting a pair of Toulouse (male and female). Is this a good choice?

Toulouse are a fantastic choice!

 

[Abraeri]

Toulouse are a fantastic choice!

Yay! It's okay to get a pair right? Someone mentioned his gander was lonely (and it's cheaper if you buy two ) They are 9 months old, which makes them younger than my ducks who are an year old (13months to be exact). If we do get them I hope they go together great. Anyone had any experiences with ducks and geese not going well together?

 

[Lamaremybabies]

Yay! It's okay to get a pair right? Someone mentioned his gander was lonely (and it's cheaper if you buy two ) They are 9 months old, which makes them younger than my ducks who are an year old (13months to be exact). If we do get them I hope they go together great. Anyone had any experiences with ducks and geese not going well together?

Yes I'd recommend a pair. I only have one goose at the moment and while he gets along great with the ducks especially one of my older girls. I think they're a couple. I was given a great point that while geese and ducks are built similarly they don't have quite the same language so having two geese they'll be able to socialize with each other. I'm sure there are planty of people who could tell you that they got geese and they didn't like the ducks, but I believe most of the time they get together just fine.