[Possum]

Whenever I have looked after other people's geese I have always been asked to shut them into a shed or stable at night. So now I have my own I have been doing the same.


But a few nights ago I was late home  and found them all sitting together outside their shed. They really needed quite a lot of persuading to go in. So, now that it is warmer at night, do I need to shut them in? They are surrounded by electric poultry netting, so should be protected from foxes.

[goosepimple]

We've never had a problem with ours free ranging 24/7 but I believe a goose can be taken.  I expect anything which can't fly can be overwhelmed depending on the predator.  It kind of depends on your area and the density of predators around - we have quite a few game keepers around us so are lucky.

[twizzel]

Yes I would still shut them in, I have to put my ducks in all night they would stay out all night otherwise. You'll kick yourself if the fox gets in and you didn't shut them in

[Porterlauren]

Foxes can defiantly kill Geese.

[Bionic]

I have lost 2 geese to the fox 

[HesterF]

They are happy out and about at night - they're my only birds that don't put themselves to bed (ever - the ducks are late but they do eventually go in by themselves). I do always put them away. My theory is that to have geese sitting there is going to make a fox try harder to get to them than if they are out of sight and mind. Also I don't think their night vision is actually that good - when I put them away at night I've seen them trip over things I can see - so they're even more of a sitting target than they are by day.

[hughesy]

We put ours away at night during the breeding season when they are laying or when they have goslings. The rest of the year we let them sleep where they want. We have lost one to a fox but that was during the day when they would have been out anyway and was a goose who had a habit of wandering off on her own.

[doganjo]

The fox went out on a chilly night,
he prayed to the Moon to give him light,
for he'd many a mile to go that night
before he reached the town-o, town-o, town-o,
he had many a mile to go that night
before he reached the town-o.
He ran till he came to a great big pen
where the ducks and the geese were put therein.
"A couple of you will grease my chin
before I leave this town-o, town-o, town-o,
a couple of you will grease my chin
before I leave this town-o."
He grabbed the grey goose by the neck,
throwed a duck across his back;
he didn't mind their quack, quack, quack,
and their legs all a-dangling down-o, down-o, down-o,
he didn't mind their quack, quack, quack,
and their legs all a-dangling down-o.
Old Mother Flipper-Flopper[3] jumped out of bed;
out of the window she cocked her head,
Crying, "John, John! The grey goose is gone
and the fox is on the town-o, town-o, town-o!"
Crying, "John, John, the grey goose is gone
and the fox is on the town-o!"
Then John he went to the top of the hill,
blowed his horn both loud and shrill,
the fox he said, "I'd better flee with my kill
or they'll soon be on my trail-o, trail-o, trail-o."
The fox he said, "I'd better flee with my kill
or they'll soon be on my trail-o."
He ran till he came to his cozy den;
there were the little ones eight, nine, ten.
They said, "Daddy, better go back again,
'cause it must be a mighty fine town-o, town-o, town-o!"
They said, "Daddy, better go back again,
'cause it must be a mighty fine town-o."
Then the fox and his wife without any strife
cut up the goose with a fork and knife.
They never had such a supper in their life
and the little ones chewed on the bones-o, bones-o, bones-o,
they never had such a supper in their life
and the little ones chewed on the bones-o.

[Possum]

 
 
I had forgotten that rhyme. The thing is, had Mother Flipper-Flopper turned on the electric fence?

[oor wullie]

Ours stay out all night (and have refused to ever go near the shelter I built for them) but we have no foxes in the area.  Because ours are not used to being herded into a house I imagine the first few attempts would end in an almighty battle of wills between me and the geese - and I am not confident I would win.

We did, however, loose a goose last week but i am pretty sure it was to the neighbours dog (who is also prime suspect for the 2 hens which were attacked) and happened during the day when the birds would have been out anyway.
if I ever catch that dog red handed.....................

[tizaala]

about six weeks ago we lost a goose sitting on 10 eggs, and 15 chickens since, mainly daylight raids from townie foxes after an easy meal