Will a goose help protect my chickens from eagles?

[Susan49]

I apologize if this is a duplicate post, I could swear I posted this a few days ago but on checking back for replies I can't find the post anywhere! Maybe too much Christmas cheer? Oh well.

Anyway, we have just started having eagle attacks on our determined-to-free-range chickens. We have lost 3 so far, including our very favourite, Dora the Explorer. These are Brown Sussex, extremely independent and very good foragers and they love to be out scratch scratch scratching all day long. Unfortunately, that makes them easy pickings as our property has relatively little cover. (However, they are certainly learning to be much more alert and aware after losing three of their number recently)

We have a guard llama for our mini goats, and I'd read that geese can be excellent protectors as well but I haven't had any experience with this. Anyone care to comment?

I expect the breed would have something to do with it, ie the bigger and more aggressive the better, but of course I'd not want the goose to be chasing us out of the chicken yard!

Would a goose have to be raised with the chickens from young in order to bond to them and want to protect them, or would it take to them even if the goose and/or the chickens were a bit older? These birds were hatched in April and June of 2014.

And can a single goose be kept with the chickens? I know llamas do their best work if they're the only one with the animals they're protecting, but not sure if geese need another goose pal.

We do have 3 roosters with these girls, but although they'll sound an alarm they sure aren't about to rush over and fight off an eagle...smart boys!

 

[sourland]

I doubt that it would work. My son and family live in Annapolis, Md. On the way there we pass through farm land being gleaned by geese. On several occasions we have seen eagles eating geese that they have captured, and on one occasion saw an eagle attempting to catch a snow goose.

 

[Naser]

I read here people say agile strong roosters, hiding places and covers, nets and fishing lines help to protect chickens from hawks. I am not sure about eagles.

 

[DoubletakeFarm]

No, they won't protect them. Geese will actually attack and kill chickens as they seem to be very territorial. I say seem to be because that's what my geese do anytime the chickens get on their side of the pasture. I don't know why they attack them but they do, who knows what they are thinking. Mine go after the chickens, rabbits, dogs, alpacas and me. We all run away. So I guess they would go after an eagle too, but they wouldn't be doing it to protect your chickens.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

.... we have just started having eagle attacks on our .... free-range chickens.... I'd read that geese can be excellent protectors as well but I haven't had any experience with this. Anyone care to comment?

The only protection that your chickens will derive from you buying geese is that the Eagles will have a more attractive meal running loose on your property. But when the goose meat runs out the Eagles will go back to eating chicken nuggets.

 

[bobbi-j]

I think your best bet is to provide more cover for your chickens if you're determined to free range, or build them a nice, big covered run.