Hawks a threat to geese?

[MsMelvin]

All of you geese people that let your birds free range during the day, are hawks a threat to them? And how old were your goslings before you let them out on their own? I'm thinking of using a run for a while...and I understand from your posts that I need to teach them to return to the coop for night time shut down; will do.

Any additional info you'd like to send (new to geese, got RIR girls only) would be appreciated.

Thank you, Sally

 

[rainplace]

I know adult geese are under no threat from hawks, but I'm unsure about the age at which they are no longer vulnerable.

 

[jmc]

unreal.

someone just had an ADULT buff goose attacked very well by a Red Tailed Hawk.

wow.

not dead (yet) but very injured and may need to be put down

 

[Kim65]

Once a goose is close to full grown at around two and a half months old, they are safe from hawks. We have bald eagles here (seasonally) that worry me, but so far they haven't shown themselves much . . . my guess is the juveniles may show up later this summer fall . . . but still, a goose is probably too big and nasty to tangle with.

One good thing about having geese is they deter hawks from going after your full grown chickens, if they share an area with them. Geese constantly scan the sky for interlopers and when they see a hawk, they will holler and honk a warning.

Goslings with geese parents are probably pretty safe, too.

 

[Kim65]

Quote:
Wow, really !!!????

That's terrible!

Well, nothing is ever for certain. Hope the goose recovers