i have a farm with a pond about 250 yards below the house. I got ducks to help clean the pond up a bit. This past winter I lost 7 ducks to what I think was raccoons. They free range about 20 acres. Would getting 1 goose help protect my ducks from raccoons or will a goose get killed by a raccoon to. I’ve seen where people would put 1 goose with fenced in chickens to help protect from predators but would it work with free range ducks
The ***** will probably leave the goose alone. This means they will just eat the ducks, if the bobcats leave them any. The bobcats and coyotes might leave the ducks alone while they eat the goose. Rifles, dogs, fences, all part of poultry keeping.
They don’t roost anywhere. During the winter when the pond freezes over they come up and hang around the house all winter. Dogs are out of the question since the dumb democrats passed a law that you can’t leave your dog outside in the winter time anymore they say it’s animal abuse even though they have a nice fur coat on and most dogs love to be outside in the winter time. And as far as guns I shoot everything that steps foot on this property that I don’t want around....coyotes,foxes,skunks,possums, *****, even red hawks and eagles if they start messing with my chickens. My property is a no fly zone for eagles, hawks, and owls
Dogs are out of the question since the dumb democrats passed a law that you can’t leave your dog outside in the winter time anymore they say it’s animal abuse even though they have a nice fur coat on and most dogs love to be outside in the winter time.
Good Lord! What state do you live in? How do farmers exist without dogs outside? Next thing you know, you'll have to bring in all the rest of your animals!
Oh, and they are cheaper than the cheap knockoffs. CC are running $17.95 ea. or $189 a dozen, compared to the dukes at $11.95 ea. or $119.95 a dozen at MTP. I had the cuffs, never caught much in them, the ones I used around the chicken yard actually rusted open and were worthless. I got some of the Duke design, back when they were expensive Lil' Grizz Getters, first on the market, and **** were bringing decent, caught literally truck loads of **** with them. Devastating if used properly.
Only way I would ever keep ducks again (and I won't) is with a pond AND and island. Having them roost/sleep on an island or raft at night is the best chance ducks have but certainly not foolproof. As I've often said:
We put our geese up at night to keep them alive. I'd get a donkey or ideally a livestock guardian dog. Geese will be preyed on as well. My dogs have several times saved geese from being torn apart on the farm. Goose vs raccoon... there is no contest. Even a 4 month old pup would be more protection.
I free-range all my fowl and this includes the woddlers like ducks and geese. And I never lock them up at night anymore. Of course I only have 6 acres, it is completely fenced and I have two guard dogs as well, one being an LGD and the other a Labrador. These dogs will not let anything that does not belong here live as I've seen them kill a variety of predators and found carcasses of others...even to the extent of chasing off the flying ones. Since you cannot let dogs freely guard your fowl, the only thing I can think of is what has already been suggested by others posting here.
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