Anne Miller wrote:I have always heard that geese make great guardian companions.
They're noisy and Very Large birds - they tend to make themselves look bigger by spreading wings and standing as upright as possible.
They're great guardians for any critter smaller that can dodge a bully, and will make a horrible ruckus if something happens that they think you (or the world) should know about - like the UPS man arrived; or there's a low flying helicopter; or the mailman has arrived; there's a strange critter of any sort in or near "their space"(a fluid measurement that can mean a space they're in, something they can see, or space they think should be theirs but the law says belongs to the neighbor); it's Tuesday; they have once again discovered their feet.
My geese have no qualms about yelling at me if I wear something different that they don't approve of, I'm showing up at night or a time they don't think I should be bothering them, or I have neglected to offer them treats.
Unlike many dogs, they can't be bribed into good behavior by strangers - they regard corn offered by me as a treat, but my husband has to scatter it and walk away before they even think about nibbling. I've tried to have someone they didn't know at all approach with corn, but they were seen as a Bad Thing and threatened.
An angry adult goose can break a bone in an adult human if there's a situation that would drive things to a physical confrontation. There are plenty of warnings before that happens, though. They use the same ferocity to protect their spaces and the less aggressive members of my flock, so I'm fine with it. I'm thinking about getting a "warning-guard geese" sign, but haven't decided if it's necessary.
They make great guardian animals and they can be socialized with other critters and will regard those other critters with special favor. My favorite goose guard was Pat who thought of himself as a Very Large Chicken and slept with the flock.
