We use ours for mowing -- they love grass! They do protect the other birds (chickens and ducks) somewhat just by being around in the coop as well. However, they don't really protect the chickens since they weren't raised with them, but the ducklings that they were raised with will mob together with the geese under stress . . . We have too many close neighbors, so we didn't get the breeds that were better for watch geese, but they do let us know what is going on. I'm looking forward to the eggs, but I doubt we would ever eat a goose . . . I have too much fun with mine.