problem freeroamers

andrewk4 · **Joined:** Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:25 am **Posts:** 3

Hi guys, Im not sure if this is the right forum to be asking, but you guys seem to know what youre talking about......

We have a group of freeroaming peafowl roaming around near our house at Hervey Bay, and they are too noisy for us to live with. They honk loudly at 5am, and my wife has had enough after 6 mths. As much as we enjoy looking at these beautiful birds, we find living with them to be another story. The neighbors said the guy who used to own them moved out 2 years ago, and left them to run wild. We are semi rural, and back onto a large parkland area, and they have multiplied.

Is there anything we can do to discourage the noise? Ive read up on google, and it seems theres not much we can do.

Is it legal to ask a collector to come and take them away? Youre welcome to them. Any other ideas? We want to do the right thing, whatever that turns out to be.

Theres 2 males, maybe 4-5 females, and at least 2 chicks about 1-2 mths old. They wander past every day at dawn and dusk. Sometimes they settle in the underbrush on our land, sometimes within 1 or 2 blocks. Theres a few vacant properties around here, and they take up residence there.

We just want the noise kept down. Yes, I know they were there first. Apart from us moving, do you have any ideas?

Thanks

b&p · **Posted:** Sun Apr 19, 2009 8:38 am

You could always trap them and sell them.As they are not native I can't see that there would be any laws in doing that. I also think if you do manage to trap them on your property and you make all attempts to contact the previous owner than legally you should be able to lay claim to them and than on sell.

andrewk4 · **Joined:** Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:25 am **Posts:** 3

I have a fishermans castnet, but I dont have any cages to keep them in. Otherwise I would trap them and sell them. Im not looking for money, just a solution.

Pam Jackass · **Joined:** Sat Jun 18, 2005 7:21 pm **Posts:** 284

I would think it would be your local bylaws officer's problem. It is such a shame as people really want birds. Also your neighbours may well like them so it could be an issue if you trap and sell them. All I can think is that you alert the bylaws guy to the problem and let him deal with it. Anyone from this forum around who could go and quietly catch them and sell them??? They are a feral animal of course and you have a right to object. Without trying to be facetious I do think you would get used to them and also you could try wearing earplugs!!! Good luck. Pam

CheekyChook · **Posted:** Wed May 06, 2009 8:35 pm

My mother had a problem with a stray peacock a while ago and she called the council they then got the RSPCA to catch it and re home him. My advice is to call your local council.

Drew Smith · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2009 10:20 am

As they are not native they don't have the usual rights that natives do. Having said that you need to make every effort to find the owner before you go doing anything with them as it could be classed as stealing.
Cheers Drew Smith

Sandie · **Posted:** Tue Jun 02, 2009 12:58 pm

Really? Would it still be classed as stealing after this long. I would have thought either...come with the property (although they were not mentioned in deeds) or abandoned.

That really blows me away. What on earth is a person to do. You may buy a property with some bad tempered bull on it. If you got him put down could you be prosecuted for that as well? Then what would happen if said abandoned animals got sick and needed vet care. Who pays or who gets prosecuted? This is a mine field.

andrewk4 · **Joined:** Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:25 am **Posts:** 3

Thanks for the input guys. Ive come to the conclusion that there is no natural method of discouraging them from living on my property. I was actually hoping that one of you would want trap them and take them away, but I realise that Im too far away from most of you. (pm me if you want the address).

They are not owned by anyone. The original breeder moved on from the area 3 years ago, and just left them behind to roam free (gee thanks) and now they are multiplying.

yes, it is a council bylaws issue. I havent complained yet, cos the neighbors (who also get em on their properties) seem equaly split on who likes the birds and who doesnt.

Sebducks · **Joined:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:41 pm **Posts:** 812

The only reference I could find on the internet as to discouraging them was to remove all plants they seem to like to eat, including your compost heap, bird seed, dog and cat food etc and apparently they don't like water very much so perhaps you could try hosing them when they come around your house?

I know their cries carry quite a way so you might still hear them even if they don't roost at your house. There seems to be an awful lot of them for a quick solution. Personally I love them I just wish they weren't so noisy. Where abouts are you I could advertise around here if anyone is interested if you are close to me.

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