That's why I wanted a goose. a protection animal. I'm hoping the turkeys... will play that roll somewhat. I've heard they do okay in that capacity as well. But either way, I love turkey meat.Yes, turkeys are somewhat protective but geese outdo all other poultry. If you do get geese it has to be at least a couple since they are flock mentality just like chickens and ducks.
I love goats milk, so the goats will be for milking, and with the amount of almond milk my kids go through and the cost of goats milk in the store, between selling the babies, eating a few, we'll end up saving a lot of milk. Once Mom's goats ate the sleeves off Pop's laundry hanging on the outdoor clothesline I noticed the goats were re-homed rather promptly. I love sheep's cheese and have to settle for Trader Joe's to get it since I'm not zoned for larger livestock in my tiny backyard
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A lot of the broodier birds will stop laying for long periods, so I need to have a good flock of regular layers in order to get enough eggs to actually eat them on a regular basis. We still end up having to buy store bought eggs, because our RIR is the only one who lays on a regular basis. Even when my cochin wasn't broody, she only laid 3-4 eggs a week, at the most. I figured once I re-homed all my assertive dual purpose and layer chickens I was never going to see much eggs. Then we happened to get a Blue Breda who has been a laying machine of 4 to 6 eggs/weekly for 10 consecutive months in just her first cycle. She was such a pleasant surprise being a good layer, non-broody, plus a non-combative breed with the Silkies that I got another Breda this month. My Silkies are old and not much eggs -- so the active and gentle Breda has been great to add.
