Moorhens

[Keep it stiff]

I'm looking for a couple of moorhens for a recently restored large pond, approx. 1,500 m2. The pond includes a couple of planted floating islands which would be an ideal as refuge from the risk of foxes. I can not see any moorhens advertised for sale, I have enquired via a local animal sanctuary but no luck there. The location is within Greater Manchester, any suggestions as to where I might be able to get a couple from?

[Equus]

Keep it stiff said:

I can not see any moorhens advertised for sale...

You won't find them.

They're a wild bird; it is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to sell or possess them without a licence (so even if you found a licenced seller, you'd need a licence yourself to purchase and keep them).

[CypSIdders]

If there are other waters near you, that sustain water birds, and your pond suits their needs, the birds will find it and occupy it.
There is a natural pond, around the same size, not far from the end of my garden, different water fowl take up residence throughout the year.
There are four moorhens all year round, however an additional four appear during summer.
Moorhens are scavengers, they'll eat anything, they will come into my garden, in the winter, to eat the bird food we put out.
They are quite timid birds, especially when they're out of the water.
From what I've seen from my garden and when I'm out fishing moorhens like dense vegetation, at the water's edge, to nest and hide in!
I know they do fly, but I've rarely seen it, if they get disturbed in my garden they run away, rather than fly.

[456mgt]

They'll probably find you. Apparently they're one of the most successful wild birds in the UK.

We have at least one pair on our pond and they have multiple young each year- 5 chicks this year, all of which are now fully grown. I don't know where they all go since we end up with (probably) the same pair at the end of the year. We're definitely a net exporter of moorhens. Must say I get quite proprietorial about our little hens and enjoy seeing them pecking around on the lawn. We put a floating duckhouse on our pond which was swiftly appropriated by the moorhens so it sounds like they'll have the curtains up and the bedding made at yours before you know it! ,

[Mort7]

Once there's a viable ecosystem to support them, they'll arrive. You can encourage this by planting pondweed, water lilies, etc, which will support molluscs and invertebrates. In the meantime you could always invest in a few ducks.........

[Keep it stiff]

There was quite a lot of upheaval in restoring the pond, which was one of two, it was drained, silt extracted, banks restored, invasive week removed and re-filled. The works also required transition of the fish, from one pond to another, and then back again. There is an arrangement in place with a local angling club to use the pond, works required the input of the EA and also from the Local Authority ecology unit. The motivation behind this was to to transform what was a somewhat neglected water to a pond that would be much more sustainable and suited to angling.

There was a solitary moorehen however I have not seen him/her for about a month, seemingly it was not perturbed by the work, done in Feb/March, as it was around for quite a while after. It is thought that he/she is/was about three/four years old, I understand this is a pretty typical of their lifespan so perhaps it was nature taking its course.

I did think about getting a pair of ducks but the anglers are not keen, I think this is because of mess and potential to disturb. There is other water quite close by, I guess then I just need to be patient and hope that the message that this is now a very desirable pond gets around the moorehen community. In the meantime I do have a heron who seems very appreciative of the improvements that have been made!