Tips on keeping the predators out:

[Chickens4Life101]

Here are some things I do to keep my flock safe from predators.
1. Always have a protective rooster in the flock. Just try to keep it from getting aggressive to humans
2. Always remember to shut your coop/run door at night.
3. If you have hawk problems, try putting a net over their ranging area
4. Always have a place for your chickens to take shelter if they can't make it to the coop. They go under our deck to stay safe.

I hope this helped!

 

[Golden Brahma 64]

It can also depend where you live. Where I live predators only come out at night. My flock is 100% free range, ranging through the fields all day long. We have a very protective rooster, he enjoys chasing our dog around the house and sitting under the patio table in hopes that some food will fall to the floor. We will also be getting some guard geese for the flock. Autumn is fox season, so I’ll be ordering the gooslings soon. We have 7 chickens, 3 ducks and 2 guineas, our flock will be expanding over the next couple of weeks as we have lots of Broodies this year, ducklings under broody duck are dew to hatch in 5 days

 

[chickeneinstein]

how well do protective geese work?

 

[Golden Brahma 64]

how well do protective geese work?

Good question. Most are a pain in the *** to us people, chasing and biting us, they will also chase a fox and sound the alarm if they can’t fight Back. You always get the odd brick head though.

 

[chickeneinstein]

Ok,what about a donkey?

 

[Golden Brahma 64]

Ok,what about a donkey?

A Donkey would be great, I’ve also heard of guard goats.
I have a 8 month old Coker spaniel near my chickens. But at nighttime he’s indoors so I need something to protect outside during the summer months as my chickens love sleeping in the trees during the hot weather, I figured geese would be good as ive had them before and they’d chase after anything that intimidated the chickens. They’re also good for weeding the garden. My rooster is crazy while protecting the hens, he likes to practice on my cocker spaniel

 

[chickeneinstein]

Alright, thanks for the help.

 

[RWise]

Here sleeping in the trees is a no-no, they would not make the night. Owls. possums, coons and so on.
A pack of dogs came in and killed my goat, 1 pack of dogs taken care of.
A few firecrackers will usually get rid of hawks, or a blank in the shotgun. There are 3 active nests in site of my coop, and at least 2 owl nests in the valley bellow. A hawk did one time hit the wire covering a rooster, did it have a puzzled look on its face. And an owl hit the hardware cloth covering the top vent on the coop.
I get it that I will loose a bird or two to wild creatures, and I accept that. However, I cannot accept that the cat/dog next door kills my livestock! And I have told them to be better at controlling their animals.