Majestic Waterfowl Sanctuary, 17 Barker Road, Lebanon, CT, 06249

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Adoption FAQ


 

Adoption Requirements

  Online Adoption Application

Please read all the information on this page before completing an adoption application!

Adoption FAQ:

1) How much is your Adoption Fee?

We ask for a $35 donation per duck or goose to cover our minimum per-bird vet costs.

2) Do I need to quarantine my newly adopted bird?

No, we have done that all for you! Every bird is tested for parasites, receives two precautionary delousing treatments and is quarantined for a minimum of 14 days.

3) Do you ship birds?

We do NOT ship our rescued ducks and geese.

4) Do you deliver birds to adopting homes?

In the best interests of our waterfowl, we ask that all adopters residing within 8 hours (one way) of the sanctuary put in the effort to make that drive to adopt their new family members.

If an adopting family cannot manage the full trip to our sanctuary on their own, we will occasionally meet them part way, but usually not more than halfway. When available, this service is  usually only available during certain times of the year--NEVER in winter.

We rarely offer to drive more than 2-3 hours unless three or more birds, hard to place birds, or a special needs bird is being adopted. In addition, the adopting family must cover our gas/toll expenses and be willing to make a donation for our efforts because our time is valuable and it benefits our sanctuary. Suggested donation: $20.00 per hour for the entire roundtrip.

5) Do I need a pet carrier when I come to adopt my bird?

Yes!

Please note, cardboard boxes or cardboard carriers are not acceptable and we will not send our rescues off to their new homes in one.

Please bring a REAL pet carrier or cage with some nice, soft bedding, so they will be comfortable for the ride.

Please bring large enough carriers or multiple carriers if you are adopting more than one bird from us. If you have any questions about your pet carrier, please ASK us before you come to pick up your new feathered friend!


Please come with a REAL pet carrier!


Or a REAL pet cage with some cozy bedding!

6) Does my adopted duck/goose need water or food for the car trip home?

It is always advisable to provide a water source for traveling ducks and geese. Occasionally they will get stressed and vomit in route, and the water will prevent any choking hazards. Click Here to learn how to make your own travel-safe, no-spill water bowl.

Food should be withheld when the duck or goose's entire trip will take less than 6 hours. This will prevent vomiting and choking hazards. If the bird's entire trip will exceed 6 hours than a 1/4 cup of food can be sprinkled into their water dish every 4-5 hours. You want to give them enough food to keep their stomach calm, but do not over-feed as it can lead to carsickness and vomiting (not to mention more poop!)

NEVER open your vehicle doors while filling or changing out food & water bowls! Frightened animals can panic and flee from your car! Find a rest stop, climb into your backseat with your newly adopted pet, CLOSE ALL VEHICLE DOORS AND WINDOWS and then open your pet carrier's door to attend to your new duck or goose's needs.

7) Is there anything else I need to know about traveling with my new pet?

Ducks and geese must travel inside of your vehicle with you--NEVER in an exterior truck bed.

Your new duck or goose has a nice warm feathery comforter that keeps them toasty warm. Ventilation is key! In summer, low-to-medium a/c that is not blowing directly on them will make for a cozy trip. In winter, keep the heat on low if anything (dress warm!). In nicer seasons, open windows partway to keep the air inside fresh and moving. This will help prevent car sickness, stress and vomiting.

8) Where can I view your adoption contract?

Click Adoption Contract.

9) Where can I learn more about waterfowl care?

You can review our Archived Newsletters and sign up for our E-list. You can also purchase The Ultimate Pet Duck Guidebook & The Ultimate Pet Goose Guidebook written by our very own Founder & President!

           

  Click Here for more information & Coupon codes! 

10) Are your adoptable animal profiles up to date?

ALWAYS! If their photo is on our website, the duck or goose is HERE! Profiles are added the SAME DAY new animals arrive. Profiles are removed the SAME DAY animals are adopted. Any birds in the midst of an adoption procedure will be clearly notated.

11) Do you "hold" adoptable animals for interested adopters?

We will sometimes agree to hold birds for up to 7 days if Adoption Fees are paid in advance by an approved home. Should the adoption fall through or become delayed for any reason whatsoever, the Adoption Fees will be considered entirely forfeit and completely non-refundable. In addition, the bird(s) will be immediately re-listed as adoptable.

12) Where are you located?

Our sanctuary is located at:  17 Barker Road, Lebanon, Connecticut 06249.

If you have a scheduled appointment and do not have a GPS be sure you have a good street map for the last few miles of the journey. Most people find us without difficulty, but a few get lost within 1-2 miles of our sanctuary. We have very poor cell reception here, so be sure you have good directions with you.

Interactive Map:


View Larger Map  

13) Can I come and meet your adoptable ducks and geese?

If you have filled out our online adoption application and we have pre-approved your family for adoption, you can schedule an appointment to visit our sanctuary and meet our rescued ducks and geese. No Visiting Donations are required from our potential adopters, but please click on Sanctuary Visits for further details.

14) Can I come visit the sanctuary even if I'm not planning to adopt a duck or goose?

Time and weather permitting, we do give private sanctuary tours, but we ask for a Visiting Donation for this service. To learn more, click on Sanctuary Visits.

15) I would like to learn more about building a safe waterfowl enclosure. Is there a charge for this kind of visit?

Unless you are pre-approved for adoption, we ask all of our sanctuary visitors to make a Visiting Donation of at least $10.00 per person. Like yours, our time is very valuable and your donation goes directly to the ducks and geese in our care. To learn more, click on Sanctuary Visits.

To learn more about pen construction and materials via our website Click Here.


Requirements for Adoption

We ask many things from adopters and that is because we are trying to place our ducks and geese in the best possible homes. Before rushing to fill out an adoption application, please take a moment to consider the following:

1)  Do you know how to care for the duck or goose you wish to adopt? We ask our adopters to please Sign Up for our e-list to receive our monthly newsletter that contains detailed health & care information you won't find anywhere else. We also maintain an Online Newsletter Archive where we store prior newsletters for your convenience. You can also view a list of helpful books by clicking here.

2) Ducks and geese require a Predator Proof Pen! We cannot stress this enough. Their lives depend on a well built, predator-proof enclosure and a night time lock up. We do not adopt out our rescues to homes intending to free range or to homes with little circles of chicken wire staked into the ground. In addition, ducks and geese must be CLOSELY and CONTINUALLY chaperoned by a responsible adult any time they leave their pen.

3)  Ducks and geese require actual brand-name Waterfowl Feed (as opposed to cracked corn, chicken scratch or other non-sustaining diets). They also need drinking water and some kind of swimming water that can range from a kiddie pool to a fenced in pond.

4)  Despite what many sources will say, ducks and geese are not "low maintenance" pets. Like any other pet, they thrive on interaction and companionship. Ducks and geese are not once-a-day, five minute pets. You should count on spending a minimum of 15 minutes with them in the morning, setting them up for the day and then at least an hour with them every evening.

5)  Ducks and geese poop A LOT! The hay in their houses will need to be refreshed daily, covering up the messy spots. Buildings/sheds will need to be thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis to prevent the outbreak of parasites, health issues and disease among your flock.

6)  You need to regularly inspect your waterfowl pen to ensure that the smallest of predators (weasels) to the largest of predators (dogs) can't get in. Flying, climbing, digging, jumping predators will take your ducks and geese and keep coming back for more. This includes cats, dogs, coyotes, bobcats, fisher cats, weasels, hawks, eagles, owls, fox and raccoons. Ducks and geese should be locked up from dusk 'til dawn when these predators are most active.

7)  Do you go on vacation? Finding a reliable waterfowl sitter can be extremely difficult. We cannot stress the importance of this. We continually hear about pet-sitters who did not show up on time in the evening, resulting in lost birds. Predators are diligent. They know where your ducks and geese are, and they watch and wait patiently for just the right opportunity. A late pet-sitter is just that opportunity. It only takes one mistake to lose your pet. Majestic offers zero-deposit, discounted pet-sitting services to help our adopters meet this need!

8)  Ducks can live up to 15 years (some go as high as 20!) if they are protected from predators, cared for properly and maintained on a healthy diet. 

9)  Geese can live up to 30 years if they are protected from predators, cared for properly and maintained on a healthy diet.

10)  If you already have ducks or geese, have you considered how they will react to a new duck or goose in their flock? Geese do well in evenly matched male/female pairs. Ducks are different than geese. If you are not maintaining an all female or all male flock and you do not have more than one pen to provide for drake separations, you will need to maintain a ratio of 1 drake (male) for every 3-4 hens in order to prevent fighting and over-mating issues (that can be fatal). 

11)  If you have other pets, like cats and dogs, have you considered the danger they may impose on your newly adopted ducks or geese? The leading cause of death to domestic waterfowl is from predator attack. Are you aware that almost all dogs (even the most gentle of household pets) have an innate instinct to chase and even kill birds?

12)  Are all family members in agreement about adopting a duck or goose?

13)  Have you researched town or city ordinances to make sure you are allowed to keep waterfowl? (Many towns and cities prohibit the keeping of waterfowl).

14)  One of the most common causes of death in waterfowl (second to predatory attack) is hardware disease. Ducks and geese are attacked to metal objects, especially shiny ones. When they ingest foreign objects such as nails, wire, coins, tin foil, fishing lures, etc. they succumb from metal toxicity. Death occurs in almost all cases. Are you able to keep your duck or goose's enclosure free of such items?

15)  Ducks and geese hide their ailments for as long as they can. This is a defense mechanism that helps to protect them against predatory attacks. This means that by the time you notice your duck or goose acting differently, their illness tends to already be progressed. Do you have a reliable waterfowl vet? Not all avian vets treat ducks and geese, so you will need to find someone who will treat them before you adopt. Keep in mind pets tend to get sick after hours and on weekends. Be sure to find an emergency vet who can assist during these off times. For a listing of waterfowl vets we know of Click Here.

16)  Vet care is expensive. Are you willing and capable to spend the money needed to properly care for your duck or goose?

17)  Ducks and geese are flock animals and are happiest in the company of friends. If adopting a duck or goose, you will need to have at least one companion for them. If you don't already have a duck or goose at home, we will require that you adopt a pair.

18)  Are you a home owner? We do not adopt to families who rent or lease. Landlords and neighbors can be fickle. If you have to move, you may not be able to find another place that will welcome your feathered friends.

19)  Are you 18 years or older? We do not adopt to minors. Please have your parents fill out our adoption application.


All Adopters Must Be Prepared To:

1)  Provide a proper diet for your duck or goose that is specifically designed for waterfowl. We highly recommend Mazuri Waterfowl feed. Click Here for more information or to view other quality brand options.

2)  Make fresh, clean water available to your duck or goose at all times.

3)  Supply a bathing source for your duck or goose that is cleaned on a regular basis.

4)  Keep straw and bedding fresh and clean.

5)  Enclose your duck or goose in a predator-proof structure that provides protection from direct sun or bad weather (snow, hail, rain, hurricane, etc.).

6)  Lock up your duck or goose every evening before sundown in an enclosure that is completely predator proof (often a barn, shed or house of some kind).

7)  Locate the closest veterinarian that has experience with waterfowl and list their full information on your adoption application and be fully prepared to pay for any vet treatment your duck or goose requires--no home remedies!

8)  Provide us with photos of the outdoor enclosure that the duck or goose will be staying in during the day as well as photos of the nighttime housing, both inside and out.

9)  Be willing to let us perform an onsite inspection, provided you reside within our standards of reasonable driving distance.

10)  Pay an adoption fee of $35 per duck or goose. This fee cannot be waived. It covers the cost we pay for each bird's fecal exam when they arrive at our sanctuary.

11)  95% of all of our adopting families come to our site in Connecticut to adopt. We occasionally make exceptions and split the drive; in this case the adopting family must cover all of our traveling expenses in addition to paying the adoption fee. We do not ship our rescues.

12)  Read and sign an Adoption Contract. The Adoption Contract is your legal promise to provide proper care and enrichment of the waterfowl you adopt from us for the rest of their natural lives. In the event that you no longer can provide a suitable home or proper care for the waterfowl, you will agree to relinquish the waterfowl directly back to our sanctuary--you are not permitted to find a new home for them on your own.


How To Start The Adoption Process

Look through the Adoption Profiles Pages to see if there is one (or more!) you would like to adopt. Then to start the adoption process you will need to fill out our Online Adoption Application. You will then need to send us photographs of your enclosure, following the instructions at the end of the Online Adoption Application.

You will receive an email confirmation within three business days of receipt of your application. After reviewing your application, we may have a few questions for you. Questions are commonly asked and addressed via email exchange. When necessary, we will follow up these actions with a phone interview. Phone calls are done at the adopting families expense. An appointment will be scheduled and adopters will be required to call accordingly.

If you are approved for adoption, you will need to come to our site in Connecticut to pick up the ducks or geese, sign our Adoption Contract and pay any related adoption fees. 


Learn More...

 

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