An Auckland park has become crowded with geese who are crossing a busy road and leaving their faeces on the footpaths. To their credit, the park staff are determined to prevent a cull (slaughter) and they have approached us for help to humanely re-home them.
We are looking for safe havens for groups of these beautiful birds.
Geese will keep the grass down, fertilize the land and they make good pets and excellent watchdogs. They will need protection from roaming dog attacks. Their new homes should provide large lawn or pasture areas on which the birds can graze, and have access to fresh drinking water every day. They love to swim, so preference will be given where a pond, dam or other open body of water is available – which would also provide an escape area for them. Life style blocks, smallholdings and farms would provide suitable homes.
An effort will be made to keep the birds in their family groups and therefore we would prefer to re-home them in clusters of five or more. Depending on the quality of the pasture, an acre will support 10–20 geese. If it’s excellent quality and marshy, more could be accommodated. Supplementary wheat and other feed, grit and mash would, of course, always be much appreciated. Eggs should be collected to avoid population growth - the infrequently laid eggs can be eaten.
Natural or manmade shelter should be provided. Three sided, double stacked hay bales with a roofing material secured over the top would be sufficient if a straw flooring is regularly replaced.
If you would like to offer sanctuary to some geese, please study the many websites on the subject of their care.
Delivery of groups of birds will be organised within the Auckland Region covering Auckland City, Waitakere, Manukau, North Shore, Rodney, Franklin and Papakura.
If you would like to adopt less than five geese or you are able to give a home to birds outside of the Auckland Region, this could be arranged - provided that you are willing to collect and safely transport them yourself.
Because some people exploit geese for their flesh and feathers, please only approach other parties who you know are genuine in their desire to preserve the lives of animals in strife. Successful applicants must be willing to have me or my representative visit the geese at about three monthly intervals for the length of their natural lifspan (20-30 years).
If you, or others you know, are able to offer a safe haven to any number of these fascinating creatures, I look forward to your application. Thank you so much for being part of a compassionate solution.
NOTE: The goose pictured on the upper right has angel wing, so will not be able to fly. This usually results when water birds are fed a diet which is too high in bread.
