Goose lovers – please help!!

[Iain Utah]

As many of you know, five months ago, I bought buff dewlap Toulouse hatching eggs from a lady I found on ebay. I continued to buy eggs & later goslings from her (I have 4 buff & 3 grey dewlaps from her stock). I recommended her to others on this site, as I absolutely adore the babies I have from her stock.

Anyway, the lady has found herself in way over her head with 200 chickens, 150 geese, 40 emus, and 7 ostriches. She needs to liquidate her stock before her husband sends them all to the meat auction. For geese, she has mostly grey dewlap Toulouse. She also has quite a few buff dewlap Toulouse, large brown dewlap Africans, and a couple dozen large white dewlap Africans.

As I personally do not want to see any of the healthy, sound and otherwise valuable geese wind up as dinner, I am working with a couple of rescue groups to coordinate a mass effort to place as many of them into good homes as I can.

Here’s the rub. She is not NPIP certified, nor have her birds been tested. So, California placement is preferable. However, the lady and I are trying to get a vet there to have them tested, as there is a sanctuary local to me that has room for them (plus I have room for a couple dozen) to hold them until they could be shipped to those who may want some, and I am more than willing to personally go there with my trailer to get them, if we can get them tested. Any help, even if just a crazy idea to suggest, is appreciated.

Thanks, Janet

 

[Miss Lydia]

As many of you know, five months ago, I bought buff dewlap Toulouse hatching eggs from a lady I found on ebay. I continued to buy eggs & later goslings from her (I have 4 buff & 3 grey dewlaps from her stock). I recommended her to others on this site, as I absolutely adore the babies I have from her stock.

Anyway, the lady has found herself in way over her head with 200 chickens, 150 geese, 40 emus, and 7 ostriches. She needs to liquidate her stock before her husband sends them all to the meat auction. For geese, she has mostly grey dewlap Toulouse. She also has quite a few buff dewlap Toulouse, large brown dewlap Africans, and a couple dozen large white dewlap Africans.

As I personally do not want to see any of the healthy, sound and otherwise valuable geese wind up as dinner, I am working with a couple of rescue groups to coordinate a mass effort to place as many of them into good homes as I can.

Here’s the rub. She is not NPIP certified, nor have her birds been tested. So, California placement is preferable. However, the lady and I are trying to get a vet there to have them tested, as there is a sanctuary local to me that has room for them (plus I have room for a couple dozen) to hold them until they could be shipped to those who may want some, and I am more than willing to personally go there with my trailer to get them, if we can get them tested. Any help, even if just a crazy idea to suggest, is appreciated.

Thanks, Janet

That is so awesome of you to help like this, I hope it all works out and you can find homes for them all.

 

[zooweemama]

That is so amazing! I don't think I can personally take on any more birds right now. But would you happen to know some of the ages of the birds? Are any of them goslings, young adults older adults? I have 2 goslings and we are head over heels for these guys. I hope some people that have room can take some in!

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Iain:
I am happy to hear you have stepped up to help her and the birds...it is very kind of you!

First, excellent work and great job about thinking of the NPIP testing: Once the NPIP testing is done, it will open up a whole lot more placement opportunities.

Next, I know this is going to be a lot of work for the two of you, but you are going to need to catalog or at least make a list of everything she needs to disperse: Breed, gender, age if known.. Then, you are going to need to cull all the sick birds of each type.

Next, you could take some photos and put them on the for sale section here on the website and also locally on Craigslist. I would then mention the ads here in the California state thread (till she is no longer NPIP pending) , and then threads for each of the types of birds: Like you did here for the geese.

Oh, also call the local 4-H clubs or extension agent (if they have those there) and/or FFA people and see if they need any birds for the kids. Our local 4-H guy would jump at a chance like this for the kids and probably even come help sort them and catalog them.

Keep us posted and fingers are crossed you will be able to find all the feather kids decent new homes.

 

[Iain Utah]

zoowee.... she has 13 brown africans between 2-5 months old. She also has a handful of white african juveniles.

Mrs Magoo, thanks for the info!! I have estimates of adults & youngsters per breed, but am working on actual numbers. Most, if not all, of her birds are 3 years or younger. 1/3 are juveniles between 2-5 months old.

Most likely, I will personally drive out there next weekend to do a better personal assessment of needs. The lady is working very hard to get a local vet there this week too. We will be unable to get her NPIP certified (I have spoken to Cali NPIP board at length). However, I can get a 30 day health certificate to bring them into Utah, then my Utah inspector said he could easily get me NPIP certified so I can ship nationally once weather is cool.

Thanks everyone for the support and pm's. Please keep them coming. We will save these birds... so help me!!

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Iain, sign us up. As I said in PM lets just get them to your location and go from there.

You work the details of your drive (trip planning) I will offer up and and all help I can on figuring out details and making it smoother.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Iain:

My NPIP inspector said that if I passed the test and did not have my number/certificate yet, that I could make photo copies of the paperwork he left me as proof to send with the birds in the meantime: I guess maybe Cali has stricter rules. Good deal on the 30 day health certificate and smart about waiting for the worst of the heat to pass to ship.

I know it is a lot of extra work, but please don't forget about the other types of fowl since most of us keep chickens in addition to geese. If the lady has internet, perhaps you could get her a profile here to post the chickens, emus, and ostriches. Otherwise, just post the list and her contact information so maybe we can find homes for them as well.

Do you have enough room to house that many birds for that long? What about the feed bill? Even though they graze, I know mine eat supplemental pelleted feed and dependent upon the number of birds it could get expensive fast. If you get them home and the feed bill gets high, maybe you could let people sponsor a bird for a month: I know I would send a Paypal for a bag of feed for them.

Anyway, keep us posted! I am sure you'll find good homes for them all.

 

[Triplell]

Hi guy's,
I too will sponser a bird gir a bag or two if feed. Are you gonna sell them or give them to good homes? If the shipping isn't too much Iwill take many of the geese and ducks if she has them. Just let me know what I can do. Lets all try and help out this lady!!

 

[Oregon Blues]

Wait a minute. What prevents her from getting NPIP certified? It's simple. Unless her birds can't pass the blood test?

Some sort of hint about where she is located would help. California is an enormous state.

Health papers are required for Oregon, but there is no inspection at the border heading north--- just mentioning it in passing, not advocating breaking the law.

 

[ducky219502]

yay you should do craigslist they should hopefully sell fast there! thats were i bought my ducklings! i think its wonderful that you are helping these geese! i really hope this works! i agree that they shouldnt end up as dinner! they deserve to live! i am keeping my fingers crossed for u!