Using geese to protect chickens?

[cmom]

Quote:
One of my neighbors had a goose and if anyone came into the yard that goose was on the job.

 

[Omran]

Quote:
One of my neighbors had a goose and if anyone came into the yard that goose was on the job.

You got that right, I am a landscaper and last summer 3 gees scared the hell out of me, while I was trying to work,till the owner of the house came and took care of it for me,LOL

Omran.

 

[jvls1942]

It sounds to me like geese are very good at protecting their turf from
PEOPLE..LOL

I have a tom royal palm .. He and our dog have a daily go round..
the dog ends up with a mouth full of feathers and the turkey ends chasing the dog into the house..LOL I always say that it would be a very surprised fox or coyote that decided to eat that tom..

..jiminwisc.......

 

[Fredster]

I'd actually like something that would run off people --- over the last few months as the economy has worsened, I've had more and more people stop by out of the blue to ask me if I'll sell chickens. A couple of guys who caught my wife by surprise one day even went so far to ask how many chickens we have, while trying to look out at the chicken yard.

I've started padlocking the coop at night, but I wouldn't mind a loud honking goose or jabbering tom turkey to chase strangers away dring the day, or to surprise anyone who managed to get past the padlocks.

If nothing else, they'd certainly alert us in the house.

I'm not completely opposed to dogs, but it kills me to spend $1000 ($500 for dogs + $300 for dog stuff + $200 for new electric fence to keep them in) to protect some $10 chickens. The older I get, the cheaper I get. And, before anyone suggests it, we're not really dog people and I don't want to have to train dogs. That price above includes two Great Pyrs that are rescues, already trained with livestock.

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
I know what you mean.. I hate it when people scope out my place.
I have a dog in a kennel, she is 31inches tall at the shoulder. she is the most laid back animal you ever met.. somebody robbing my place could step right over her and she wouldn't even open her eyes.. you get the picture.. but she is huge. I just casually mention that I let her out at night to watch the place, but I keep her penned during the day, because I can't trust her..LOL I have never had any midnight visitors.. LOL

........jiminwisc.......

 

[pwand]

Quote:
Put out two big dog dishes out front were people are lurking by can see it, and a big chain to make it look like you have a really big dog, put up signs that say guard dog on duty. That might scare them away.

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
Put out two big dog dishes out front were people are lurking by can see it, and a big chain to make it look like you have a really big dog, put up signs that say guard dog on duty. That might scare them away.

and if you have only one dog, put on the sign;;;; Beware of dogS;;;
makes them nervous if they cannot see the "other" dog.. LOL

....jiminwisc.......

 

[Fredster]

Quote:
I always figured a sign like that would be a legal liability --- if my dog bit someone, the sign would indicate I knew it was a problem, and all that. Maybe I've just watched too many legal-type shows.

We went looking for geese and turkeys today. We found some, but my wife seemed reticent so we didn't get them.

I discovered all the chickens under the coop when we got home. There was a giant Cooper's hawk sitting in the big oak tree next to the coop, just waiting. That's the same tree I found the Silkie under.

I walked out there and it flew to another tree, but didn't leave. As I walked around the perimeter of our property, it flew from tree to tree but didn't leave.

Since I haven't fired the .22 for a while, I thought this would be a good time to test it out, so I got it and fired into the ditch bank a few times. The hawk flew off after that, but I guess it's time to really get serious about finding something to act as a deterrent.

I've got a line on two Great Pyrs, 4 months old, that are currently living among chickens. They're only $50 each, and already seem to understand their job on a farm.

Ugh. This is the part where I'm remembering the last time we got a dog (interestingly, also a Great Pyr), and how he injured one of our cats trying to play with it. I guess it would be different this time, since these dogs would be outside and not inside.

Time for me to dither about it, because taking on the long-term responsibility of another life (lives!) always makes me spazzy. Everything I've read says this breed doesn't mind not being treated like a pet, because they're happiest when they're working.

Anyone have any experience / anecdotes to support that?

 

[jvls1942]

if you already feel like that, don't get them.. you will make pets out of them anyway and spoil 2 good dogs and your problem will still be there..

...jiminwisc.......

 

[Pinky]

I think you should try the geese or turkeys.Get a few and see how it works out(Try to get more than one).The hawk may be intimidated by the larger noisy birds.You won't know for sure until you try it.And if you don't think getting a goose or turkey will happen ,you could try a fake owl and move it around to make the hawk think its real.