Boots and Roots

This is Maverick. He’s a Livestock Guardian. A guard goose.  Did you know geese could guard livestock? If you’ve ever been beaten by the wings of a goose, then you understand why!

Geese are often used to protect chicken flocks out on pasture—and that is Maverick’s role. Geese are pretty good about keeping skunks, raccoons, possums, and even hawks away from flocks.

Maverick has even been known to “goose” a couple of my friends—under the guise of protecting his flock, of course!

He LOVES our livestock guardian dogs. I think that he thinks he’s part of a larger livestock guardian “club” or something. Typically, we rotate our layer flock at night, after they’ve “put themselves up” for the night—meaning, they are all in the mobile coop, roosting. It’s super easy to move them at this time of night! And typically, when we move the laying hens, Maverick won’t cross the threshold of where the electric net WAS. We usually have to physically pick him up and carry him across the line, into the next paddock!

During a recent move, I really didn’t have time to deal with Maverick. So I made sure he was safe, and planned to catch him in the morning. It seems that overnight, Maverick and our dogs became fast friends!  Or at least Maverick thought so!

The next day, I watched Maverick follow our dogs all over the farm. And I mean ALL over–right into the road!!  Waddling right behind them, honking as he went!

Like any animal, Maverick and I have had to learn to come to an understanding of each other. He doesn’t try to chase me anymore–so I don’t chase him.  There’s a respect there, which is the ideal place to be. You don’t want livestock that has zero fear of humans.  Animals with zero fear can be dangerous.  Even geese! 😂