August 21, 2026

Family credits goose for saving them, 100 chickens and turkeys from barn fire

WATCH: Heroic goose saves family from fire

A Texas family is crediting their pet goose for alerting them to a barn fire earlier this month, helping to save their hatchery's 100 chickens and turkeys.

"We got really, really, really lucky -- really lucky," Chelsea Gerber, the owner of Chelsea's Chickens in Richmond, Texas, told ABC News' Danny New.

Chelsea Gerber and her husband, Bert Gerber, said their pet goose -- named Goosey -- started honking loudly in the early morning hours of Aug. 3.

The ruckus was caught on the family's home security camera, footage of which the Gerbers shared with Storyful.

"Living here with all these animals, you get used to certain noises that you don't even pay attention to, but there was one that night that I hadn't heard before," Bert Gerber told ABC News.

Bert Gerber said after he was awoken by Goosey, he realized the barn had caught fire and responded quickly, grabbing a garden hose to get the fire under control.

The Gerbers said old electrical wiring was likely the culprit behind the unexpected fire.

The couple said their daughter Elena is also a hero: She met Goosey at an expo three months ago and asked if they could keep him.

"How do you say no to that?" Chelsea Gerber said.

Now, Chelsea Gerber said the family plans to get a friend for Goosey and name her Lucy.