Use guard animals — dogs, geese, or guinea fowl

Livestock guardian animals deter predators through presence, noise, and aggression. Different species work best in different settings.

Options

• Livestock guardian dogs (LGDs): Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherd, and Maremma are bred for this purpose. They bond with the flock and patrol 24/7. Best for rural properties with acreage. Cost: $300-800 for a puppy from working lines.
• Geese: Extremely territorial and loud. A pair of geese will alert to any intruder and physically confront small predators. They cost $15-40 each, eat grass, and require minimal care.
• Guinea fowl: The most effective alarm system in poultry. They scream at anything unusual — snakes, hawks, strangers. They also eat ticks aggressively. Cost: $5-8 per keet.

Why It Works

Predators are opportunistic. A loud, aggressive guardian presence makes your flock a harder target than the unprotected flock down the road. Most predators avoid confrontation.

Tips

• LGDs need to be raised with chickens from puppyhood to bond properly — an untrained adult dog is itself a predator risk
• Geese are aggressive toward children and visitors — not ideal for suburban yards
• Guinea fowl are loud and free-range widely; neighbors may not appreciate them