Guard geese?

[Quacking ducks]

I had 13 standard chicken hens, 2 bantam hens, 11 ducks and 2 ten week chicks.

Yesterday a fox came up and took 1 bantam, about 7 minutes later he came back and tried to take more but I saw him and chased him away. I’m thinking of getting a guard goose to help protect the ducks and chickens. Has anyone had experience with a guard goose? Can they protect against foxes? What would the best breeds for guarding and being around little kids? Thanks

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Geese can be hit and miss. They won't actually guard, and may try to kill the chickens, and ducks during breeding season. They may be a visual deterrent, but I wouldn't count on it. Geese need other geese.

 

[Quacking ducks]

Geese can be hit and miss. They won't actually guard, and may try to kill the chickens, and ducks during breeding season. They may be a visual deterrent, but I wouldn't count on it. Geese need other geese.

What if I got like two female geese when they still be a problem during breeding season?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What if I got like two female geese when they still be a problem during breeding season?

They may be okay. My first batch of geese was 3 female buff American. They did fine mixed in with my flock. The next year I got some pilgrim, 3 females and a gander, and that's when the trouble began. So I'd recommend buff American if you can get them and see how it goes. They still won't guard, but may or may not be a visual deterrent. Two females will bond up and mock mate, and tend their eggs, so remove them as they are laid.

 

[nuthatched]

Unfortunately, 'guard Goose or guard geese' is more fiction than fact.

 

[FurryHerbalist]

Unfortunately, 'guard Goose or guard geese' is more fiction than fact.

What I find is they are good alarm bells, letting other livestock know is something out of the ordinary is prowling about. My Brown Chinese raise the alarm if there’s hawks and the chickens will all run for shelter. They will also sound off the second they see humans. But if a fox decided to grab lunch, Whistler would go down fighting but I doubt he’d win the fight.

 

[Pumperkinz]

I had 13 standard chicken hens, 2 bantam hens, 11 ducks and 2 ten week chicks.

Yesterday a fox came up and took 1 bantam, about 7 minutes later he came back and tried to take more but I saw him and chased him away. I’m thinking of getting a guard goose to help protect the ducks and chickens. Has anyone had experience with a guard goose? Can they protect against foxes? What would the best breeds for guarding and being around little kids? Thanks

About the only thing is to dispatch the fox, or put electric fencing up/netting.


Geese even if you have two females can get hormonal and be protective of unfertilized eggs. I have sebastopols, and they are more "docile" but the girls can be spicy from Jan->June.