What are the geese doing?

[ChickenHermit]

Could also be raccoons- they're sneaky, almost everywhere, and love going after geese.

Sounds like you have a good plan!

 

[Percheron chick]

Geese are like feathered dogs.

 

[Rhyahcf]

Well I got two into the playhouse with water and food. The rest flew off to the middle of the ice. They have never been penned, and I believe they’re all about 3-4 years old, so any time they get spooked they fly off to the center of the pond, which is 3 acres so I can’t get them. BUT one of the ones I got penned is the injured one, so being that he’s got company I’m gonna leave them in there overnight. It’s all I can do.

 

[Rhyahcf]

Could also be raccoons- they're sneaky, almost everywhere, and love going after geese.

Sounds like you have a good plan!

Ah, didn’t think about that. We do have a raccoon family. One was at the backdoor scratching to come inside just a few nights ago.

 

[ChickenHermit]

That would be my bet- especially seeing the neck wounding. They can be relentless as long as the geese are available- they’ll even go after them for fun, not just because they’re hungry. As an animal lover, I think they’re cute little buggers, but as a poultry keeper, I loathe them.

 

[ChickenHermit]

Well I got two into the playhouse with water and food. The rest flew off to the middle of the ice. They have never been penned, and I believe they’re all about 3-4 years old, so any time they get spooked they fly off to the center of the pond, which is 3 acres so I can’t get them. BUT one of the ones I got penned is the injured one, so being that he’s got company I’m gonna leave them in there overnight. It’s all I can do.

You are doing the best you can- geese can be hard to catch! Glad you were able to get a few in at least.

 

[Rhyahcf]

That would be my bet- especially seeing the neck wounding. They can be relentless as long as the geese are available- they’ll even go after them for fun, not just because they’re hungry. As an animal lover, I think they’re cute little buggers, but as a poultry keeper, I loathe them.

Well we lost another one last night, and today as I was looking for foot tracks some movement caught my eye in our 20 acre field. It’s a freaking huge Bobcat. I watched it walk across the field toward the barn, which is where we’ve noticed most of the tracks coming from, and then wrapping around the pond. At least we know what we’re dealing with, but it doesn’t settle my nerves. I’d rather it be a raccoon. My husband tried using our caller to call it out, but all that did was draw out a dozen deer from different directions and they all huddled up and looked at him, which was weird in itself. Lol my guys are living on a prayer right now and the hope that tomorrow’s temps thaw the pond. Once the ice is gone, they’re safe again.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sorry for your losses. Unless you can lock them up securely this will keep happening.

 

[ChickenHermit]

Well we lost another one last night, and today as I was looking for foot tracks some movement caught my eye in our 20 acre field. It’s a freaking huge Bobcat. I watched it walk across the field toward the barn, which is where we’ve noticed most of the tracks coming from, and then wrapping around the pond. At least we know what we’re dealing with, but it doesn’t settle my nerves. I’d rather it be a raccoon. My husband tried using our caller to call it out, but all that did was draw out a dozen deer from different directions and they all huddled up and looked at him, which was weird in itself. Lol my guys are living on a prayer right now and the hope that tomorrow’s temps thaw the pond. Once the ice is gone, they’re safe again.

I'm sorry for your losses. Bobcats can be persistent. Any luck with getting the remaining geese inside?

 

[Rhyahcf]

Sorry for your losses. Unless you can lock them up securely this will keep happening.

Yeah, we’re gonna build them something soon. The ice is melting, so hopefully they can get out to the middle tonight. They were all accounted for this morning.