Rescuing goose from park. I would love some advice!

[Steffanyace]

No luck yet. I have a three year old and a seven year old, so I have limited time to spend trying to get the goose.

Thanks for the link Poultry09.

Do you think he might bed down on the shore at night to where I could sneak up and grab him? I thought about that and shining a flashlight at him to get close enough to grab. Do you think either one might work?

 

[nonsuch]

If the goose is sleeping (with his head under a wing) it could work. Thanks for continuing to try!

 

[BeachBirds]

Any updates? Please tell us what has happened. My wife and I are very worried about this goose.

 

[jak2002003]

I hope you get her. You reminded me of a similar story that did not have a happy ending.

I my old city they had a pond in the park with 3 geese. 2 died leaving one very lonely goose. I used to go feed him every day. Again kids were nasty to him. One day he had an injury to his eye and it looked like someone threw rocks at him as they were laying about all over the ground.

I felt so sorry for him - there were not even any ducks to keep him company and his 'shelter' was really an overturned rusty oil drum - that was too small for him to even get in!

I phoned the city council and was told I had to write in. I did. It took weeks to get a reply. It was not even answering my questions. I was just told it was the park property.

I tried called an animal rescue, but they were not interested - saying it was a wild goose and it could fly off it wanted. But this was a pure white fat domestic goose that could not fly.

So he had to live the rest of his life there getting stuff thrown at him by teenagers. I moved last year, and when I went back to visit my family they told be he had died. I with I had tried harder to get him - but I only lived in a town house with a very small yard where geese and chickens are not allowed.

Please don't give up trying to save this one!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I've been wondering also.

 

[gooseville]

Hi Lydia-
I just joined this site and was reading your post from December. If you can post a video with the goose making sound, I can easily tell you if it is a male or female. They sound totally different as adults and it is easy for me to tell. You can vent sex them when they are babies but not now.
As for catching the bird, I have done this many times at the park as we have rescued so many. You need bags of bread, maybe some dog food. Drop the food close to you. You are going to have to move VERY FAST when the bird gets close. You have to quickly grab the bird by the upper part of the neck and pick it up. I know this sounds crazy but we have done it probably thousands of times. Situate the bird under your arm so wings cannot expand. You can keep your other hand on its neck if you feel like it might bite you. Usually they are pretty submissive when you pick them up. Many of our birds walk right up to us now to be picked up. You will need to put the bird in a box or dog crate, etc and I recommend covering it with a towel when you transport. I can help you with anything if you need me. I do this often. We have many gorgeous birds at our park that need to be rescued. If I lived close, I would come do it for you. Let me know how it goes and don't give up. And yes, get the bird a mate. You have such a large price of land, you should consider geese as pets! They are amazing in every way! Here is a picture of one that I rescued from the park. He was the absolute meanest, most dominant bird at the park and I was able to get him. He attacked me the first day I met him-literally chased me and tried to bite me.

Look how I earned his trust! It can be done. I will post more below

 

[gooseville]

Here are some when he was at the park and after we took him home. I wasn't able to take him home until we bought a new house with property that allowed for geese. He is the loudest, largest goose I have seen yet.

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

adult birds can be vent sexed, once caught they can also be DNA sexed with feather samples to a lab (AvianBioTech). not all breeds of geese are quickly and easily told apart by voice.

 

[gooseville]

Birds can be vent sexed at a lab however I was trying to save her some money. I vent sex my birds when they are babies- I was referring to that. I can easily tell by voice when they are older. To me, they have always sounded different and I have been doing this for years. I suppose I might run into a bird someday that will be difficult to tell, but it hasn't happened yet. My guess is that I could tell her the sex by watching a video. The chances are pretty good.

 

[laturcotte1]

What about your local newspaper or maybe the towns journal. Tell them the story. Isn't there family or friends that wil help you. For sure once you get a hand on it hold on, once you have hold secure the wings they ususally turn submissive when held. You have to be absolutely ready with a crate or large box. Maybe a large net. You have to earn some kind of trust first unless you are as fast as lighting which you'll have to be anyway. It has to get close to you. the problem is they are smart and if you gain its trust and you screw it up it will be harder the next time. There has to be someone else that will help you. Volunteers from the animal shelters, neighbors.