[johnwesleybarker]

Hi,

We've kept chickens in our small 800 square metre garden for a couple of years now. We've lost a few to foxes but now our two hens are on a strict regime, they're only allowed out if we're out with them. I caught a fox only feet away from a chicken a week ago. Quite a moment I can tell you. 'Blue' a Bluebell hen was alarming like mad and I went rushing to her to see Mr Fox mesmerising 'Little One' the Warren hen. The fox sauntered off when I shouted at him.

Now we've been given to Embden geese. They're settling in nicely and the chickens have a go at them and chase them around the garden. They hardly hiss and have a lovely nature.

They're sleeping on the pond at night - which brings me to the point (at least I hear you say!)

Is sleeping on the pond sufficient protection from the foxes?

During the day they wander free, are we mad not keeping them penned up and away from the foxes.

The garden adjoins a large coppice.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Johnny.

[lachlanandmarcus]

Probably not unless its an MPs duck house sized pond ie a deep lake.....


They ideally need shutting up at night.


I've had one taken at night over a 7 foot fence when not shut away, but haven't had any issues during the day with them free ranging.


NB it will likely be an outcast male that is taken, bonded pairs of goose/gander tend to be able to see them off just in my experience tho.

[shygirl]

i dont think they actually sleep on the water but rather at the side so if possible they need to come in.
we lost a goose to a fox when she went down to a big wildlife pond with an island, and the rest walked home back to the smaller pond near the house.
we had about 10 adult geese and ganders and they stayed out all summer but they were a tight knit group. 2 would be rather vulnerable.
geese herd pretty easily. if they are in a barn at night then you will find it easier to collect their eggs, as they start laying feb time.

[HesterF]

I'd say it depends how upset you'd be to lose the geese. I've travelled to the far side of the country to pick up geese and would be gutted to lose them so mine are behind a 7 foot high, 2 foot deep fence topped with barbed wire day and night - and at night they're locked into a shed too. If you've lost birds already to foxes and have seen them in daylight, you know there is a risk - then it's your call whether you want to minimise that risk or not. Sitting in the middle of a pond won't protect them - for a start foxes can swim, for a second, the geese are not going to sit there all night - mine are always still active after dark.

H

[Penninehillbilly]

Mine are fastened in at night, they wait for their supper which I feed inside their hut, I believe some people say you shouldn't feed them inside but if it gets them in and safe its worth it. Fox had one of mine down field, luckily OH saw it and ran down, she could hardly lift her head for over a week but she survived. Farmer over valley had a huge pond, but I found remains of one of his geese in our field. (smaller than an embden tho)