Should I get a goose?

[LavenderDaFlerf]

Roosters alert too and no they don't fight foxes (neither do geese) If your hens don't respond to alerts for the rooster it doesn't make them useless.The hawks usually pick out the stragglers that don't hang around the rooster.They know its easier to get one by itself than grabbing one out of a group (usually the group is where the rooster is)

The rooster aren't alerting though and thats the problem.

 

[Hannahnic14]

Abso-stinkin-lutely you should get a goose!!! Well, a pair to be more specific. I got 1 goslings last summer and raised them with my chickens. Surprisingly they bonded with the chickens instead of each other. My gander was AMAZING at alerting for any kind of predator, he even fought off a hawk. Sadly he passed away last week from a suspected dog attack. My other goose has assumed his responsibilities with ease.

I highly recommend guard geese! We have had a great experience with them and the only "extra" things we do is have a bucket of water for them to dunk their heads in and we feed all flock/flock raiser so they get niacin in the winter when there is no grass.

They are great foragers as well, they free rang in the wood with our chickens. Just our experience, hope this helps!!

Jellybean & Cricket

 

[Poultrybonkers]

A goose isnt gonna stop a hawk from attacking if that was true my duck would still be here but a hawk took off with it

 

[LavenderDaFlerf]

Abso-stinkin-lutely you should get a goose!!! Well, a pair to be more specific. I got 1 goslings last summer and raised them with my chickens. Surprisingly they bonded with the chickens instead of each other. My gander was AMAZING at alerting for any kind of predator, he even fought off a hawk. Sadly he passed away last week from a suspected dog attack. My other goose has assumed his responsibilities with ease.

I highly recommend guard geese! We have had a great experience with them and the only "extra" things we do is have a bucket of water for them to dunk their heads in and we feed all flock/flock raiser so they get niacin in the winter when there is no grass.

They are great foragers as well, they free rang in the wood with our chickens. Just our experience, hope this helps!!

Jellybean & Cricket
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What breeds would you recommend?

 

[Hannahnic14]

What breeds would you recommend?

We had a toulouse gander and a Roman tufted goose. The Roman tufted is alot more docile and quiet. My toulouse wasn't aggressive at all, but alot louder and active.

 

[LavenderDaFlerf]

Should I get female female, male male, or male female pair?

 

[Hannahnic14]

Should I get female female, male male, or male female pair?

I got both of mine as straight run and ended up with a male/female pair.

 

[Brooke_R]

Should I get female female, male male, or male female pair?

I would think two females or a male and a female incase two males would try to mate with your chickens

 

[LavenderDaFlerf]

I got both of mine as straight run and ended up with a male/female pair.

I would think two females or a male and a female incase two males would try to mate with your chickens

I think I'll get straight run because males are 20 while females are 45, straight run is 30.

 

[Hannahnic14]

I think I'll get straight run because males are 20 while females are 45, straight run is 30.

Yea, they can be expensive