Domestic geese hanging out with wild ones. Update: RESCUE SUCCESS - Page 2

UGH this type of thing just makes me sick why buy geese that you can't commit too.... GRRRR

They need to be taken and placed. It also looks like their is a large group of domesticated ducks couple look like muscovy and I see a pekin, maybe some swedish! They need to be rescued with the geese. These birds are not wild and WILL not make it through a winter with out adequate feed. The geese do  look very friendly and hungry so probably would be an easy catch! I am not sure how the ducks are they can usually be a bit harder!

Glad you got a hold of the wetland person, if they do not remove the domesticated fowl they can be sued for animal negligence! SO make sure you keep harassing them if they stop taking your calls. A good threat usually will get people to move more quickly.

Keep us updated. They look okay now, but if it drops down to freezing there they will be in big trouble!

Most likely I will be able to take these Geese in. May need that advice/strategy on how to catch them and haul them home, though! Thanks in advance!!! My friend Liza has a background in Avian Nutrition, so she is giving me advice on feed/food sources, etc. and other needs.

They will be protected, fed, & loved here. Don't want any creature to have to go through Winter, the Holidays, without a loving home!

   Bless you it is so heartbreaking to see them dumped off like that, people just assume that they will make it or just don't care.  It's such a wonderful thing you are doing. 
what about the ducks they need homes too?   I rescued 2 ducks from our river a couple years ago by using a dog xpen set up on 3 sides with one side open and put feed towards the back so when they walked in to eat I closed up the open end, now this is alott more than 2 ducks so you'll need more fencing or somekind of netting but as hungry and tame as they look right now you should be able to do it with help. Dog Crates will work for transport. Large dog crates. 

Thank you! I'm worried about the ducks as well, but don't know if we can handle all of those along with?! Looks like a lot! But maybe we can work on finding the ducks other homes. I thought of the dog crate and pen idea, especially using food as the lure. Will have to see if we can borrow or rent some. That's a big purchase, especially right now with the holidays. Will see what we can come up with.

Would appreciate any and all advice, regarding catching & transport. As well as care for the Geese. You can never have to much information! From what I've gathered so far, it shouldn't be that difficult for us to get them a nice set up, quickly.

Yay Chicks! :

Oh, and Hockmangirl, if you could PM me with contact info, that would be great.  Unless, you are a minor, in which case I'll need your mum's contact info.  I would guess that the Friends of Fernhill contact may want to be there at the rescue...and we may want him there so that the action is not questioned.
He also said that if I found someone who could rescue, he would then check into any documentation or requirements that might have to be met.

Now that this is also on the Oregon thread hopefully you find alot of help and maybe homes for some of the ducks as well. Wishing you the best as you go about this. 

The ducks should be removed also they are not like mallards because they can't fly from danger. I would highly recomend trying to find homes. Otherwise people will think its fine to drop more off.

strategy for catching them...

you need

2-4 people

a pickup truck

cracked corn or scratch

probably 2 XL or XXL dog crates, preferably wire type, not the fully enclosed type (fully enclosed is a little safer for them in transport, but much harder to herd them into becasue it's enclosed and dark inside) ... I've had 4 full grown chineese geese in a large crate and that was pretty crowded, you might be able to stuff 8 in an XL cage, but they'll be squished and I don't think it would be safe. 

some wire grid fencing - 10' per side would give you plenty of room to herd with. cattle pannels (or sheep or hog panels) would work best because it's rigid and won't roll up or sag.

Tposts or some way of supporting the ends.  if the geese are as friendly and as hungry as they look, you might be able to use people to hold up the ends.

set it up like a funnel - the pair of crates at the point, panels as wings.

pour out some of the grain starting in the back of the crates, make a fair little pile of it.  they may just come right into the crates to get it... depending on what they're used to.  if they don't come in, pour a little tiny bit in front of the crates, and scatter a tiny amount in the runway between the pannels.  you want to give just enough to get them to move up, with most of it near or in the crates... the more that you put down at the wide end of the funnel, the harder it will be to get them to move forward.

have your herder person (or two) come around behind them giving them plenty of room and using spread arms as they walk gently on to encourage them up into the crates.  might want to have the herders carry a cane or broomstick in each hand to extend their reach and herding range.

if you've got a 3rd cattle pannel, you can use it to close off the open end of the funnel to keep the geese from scooting out once they catch on that they're being herded into crates.

geese are easy to herd, but you don't know how these have been treated, they may be crate shy, or used to crates, or just not have a clue.  take your time, go slow enough you don't panic them, and you'll have a lovely flock of geese to take home!

wishing you good luck, so glad they've found a home.  I'd SO be there with you if I was closer.

Aw! Thanks! We have someone loaning us two dog x-pens for us to corral them with. Still trying to find someone to loan us the dog kennels. Trying to rope some friends/locals into helping herd and load them up, as well! I have an SUV, it might be big enough for two XL dog pens, not sure yet. May try and find someone with a truck who might be willing to help. One question though. If they are in the bed of the truck, should I cover the kennels with a blanket or something to protect them from debris, the view, the speed, while driving back to the farm. It's going to be about an hour and a half drive (if we hit traffic).