Noisy Ne Ne's

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Gander

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Hi all,

I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself breifly first. My name is Rob, and I live in Worcester with my partner and our two kids.......(Well I did say breif didn't I !!)

Anyway onto my first post.

I have a pair of Ne Ne's (Hawaiian geese) in my garden. I bought them when they were still very young thinking they would make good pets. I didn't intend breading them, but that was the only way I could buy them, and after a while I kind of liked the idea anyway (conservation and all !) I don't have a big garden or a pond, but my lawn is big enough to support them all year round with the addition of some pellets towards the end of winter. They have access to water in the form of a large fiberglass bird bath and also in the summer I bought them one of those cheap none inflatable paddling pools :lol: . I house them at night in a very large avairy which has enough room for twenty Ne Ne's, let alone two :lol: I went for Ne Ne's because they don't need access to water like other species, and they always seemed to be the quietest whenever I saw them at various WWT centres (ha ha).
So here's my problem. They are noisy, very noisy in fact and at very unsocial hours aswell ! I realise it's probably because thet are social imprints and therefore interact with their human surroundings, but the question is What can I do about it ? I have to lock them in a dog kennel inside the avairy at night to keep the noise to a minimum, which I hate having to do. I have also tried leaving a radio on overnight to try and distract them from the surrounding noises, but it didn't really help. I don't want to get rid of them because we have all become very attached to them, but at the moment I can't see any other options.

Any help or advise would be very welcome.

Thanks in advance,

Rob.
 
Hmn,that is a tough one.I've not kept geese so probably wont be able to suggest anything usefull,but,normally would they be geese that live in a large gaggle? Maybe putting some large mirrors in their dog kennel would help,so they think they are in a larger group.Also,what about some toys to occupy them,my one cockerel loves sitting on a large football.I would also suggest hanging treats and food for them,as well as cd's etc.
hope someone else has other suggestions.
 
housing wildfowl isn't a good idea , nor is keeping them as 'pets'.
 
Hi Gander,

Welcome to the forum.

Yes, hmm tough that one. Tend to agree with Ben in that Wildfowl don't normally get housed and don't usually make good pet birds.. but you are where you are with them and I can certainly understand the attachment you have for them.

Unfortunately for you, wildfowl can be rather noisey at times..

Do you think that they would make noise if they weren't housed at night? Are they noisy by day?

If they are happier free ranging at night, you might be able to put a fence / electric wire around to protect them from the fox. This is how most people will protect their collection - having a pond also would allow them to escape to water if they had a visit from a fox.
 
I thought about just letting them sleep out at night, but I worry about foxes and cats. A lttle more work on the garden fence will keep foxes out but cats are another story. I don't think leaving them unhoused would make any difference to be honest. They can be noisy sometimes during the day if we are in the house, but when someone is outside with them (usualy me) they are very relaxed and quiet (unless it's one of the kids and the gander always goes for them). Unfortunately a pond isn't an option for me, I just don't have the space, well not for a large enough one anyway. I am willing to give anything a go, but I'm thinking along the lines of re-homing them if they continue to create, it's just not fair on the neighbours. I can't helping feeling guilty though, maybe they would have been better if they weren't imprinted ?

Thanks for the constructive comments.
 
I have always housed my geese - they have been absolutely fine - infact they take themselves in each night and wait for us to close the door and then go quiet and settle down - unless anyone is around and talking then they 'talk' back.
 
Hi Rob,
I realise Nene's are a small goose but I wouldn't expect a cat to try getting one,a fox would give it a go,but I wouldn't expect a cat to be that silly.
When you've finished making your garden secure,try leaving them out,as long as there are places for them to shelter etc.
Have your neighbours actually complained to you?If they haven't,maybe they don't actually find them that annoying.As Nene's are a rare breed,maybe if you do decide to re-home them, try contacting a rare breeds survival trust,for one of their farms or the domestic fowl trust,they should be able to help.
 
Anne W said:
I have always housed my geese - they have been absolutely fine - infact they take themselves in each night and wait for us to close the door and then go quiet and settle down - unless anyone is around and talking then they 'talk' back.
Click to expand...

I think this is the main problem Anne. They hear noises around them all the time and they just respond. Someone not to far away from me has a small dog that they let out at night, and when it barks it sets them off. They have only recently become very vocal, I wondered if it was their age and the time of the year ? They are not a year old yet, but maybe spring fever is getting to them :)

Lydia said:
Hi Rob,
I realise Nene's are a small goose but I wouldn't expect a cat to try getting one,a fox would give it a go,but I wouldn't expect a cat to be that silly.
When you've finished making your garden secure,try leaving them out,as long as there are places for them to shelter etc.
Have your neighbours actually complained to you?If they haven't,maybe they don't actually find them that annoying.As Nene's are a rare breed,maybe if you do decide to re-home them, try contacting a rare breeds survival trust,for one of their farms or the domestic fowl trust,they should be able to help.
Click to expand...

You're probably right about cats taking them Lydia, but I bet they would create if one steps into the garden ! :)
Although the neighbours haven't said anything yet, I am very consious of what they must be thinking. It is not what I'd class as background noise and at 2 or 3 in the morning it can only be very annoying.
Thanks for the advise about the rare breads survival trust, I just may haveto contact them.
 
I would go through the British Waterfowl Association - they have lots of members with Wildfowl - I have their breeders directory if you need some names to contact. They also have area reps who can be very helpful with this sort of thing - they are a charity concerned with conservation and education after all.

The fence would have to be pretty good to keep foxes out - most wildfowl are kept behind a chest high fence with 3 electric strands run on the outside so the fox cannot dig or climb over.

Tim
 
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