little chickadee Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 ........ and ask, " I don't suppose you've got some chickens in your garden have you? Who else has had to do this? Luckily hubby was also at home and came round with the cat basket and helped me catch them all. The neighbour was very amused luckily - must take him round some eggs. We thought we'd made it hen proof, but there is a hole in our neighbours fence which we didn't know about. Lucky we found out with the chickens and not the Guide Dog Puppy we're getting in March! We'll have to wire it up by then I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Hmmmm AWOL chooks huh? Glad the neighbour didnt mind I must admit before my girls came I went round the perimeter fence inch by inch - doubt if a mouse could get into my garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Phew! If there is a way out...they will find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Ginger spice is the only chicken who escapes regularly and I do suspect that my lovely meighbours are encouraging her with treats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Mine have done that before too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arowland17 Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 the exact same thing happened to ours last weekend but it wasn't so straight forward as by the time i'd noticed there was a gap where next doors cat keeps pushing through the fencing they were 3 doors down and had made it round from the back gardens to the front! Anyway, I didn't know where they were so rung OH who dashed home from work in a panic (goodness knows what he'll be like when we have kids!) and we began knocking on doors! When we found them Nugget was easily caught but Buttercup took a solid 30 mins of chasing round gardens before we finally cornered her and got her back home! Such an ordeal they're not allowed out unsupervised for even a minute until the fence is properly fixed!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Tilytinkle Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Okay thats another to do job, wrongly i assumed they would'nt go through the fence...ooh dear i just assumed they would stay within a fairly close range to their home, thats thinking they can evaluate!!! Hmmmm I can & yet i've misjudged totally so far , all expectations. So does chicken fencing needs to be put around all fences, gates with gaps in etc??? what about hedges ? do they go under hedges etc Ms Tilyreallyhasnoidea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Mine do. Daph has so far alerted me to several gaps in the hedge, by getting through them, then panicking when she can't find her way back to Marj and the food. She does want to come home again, she just can't resist the lure of a gap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 My pekin keeps showing off and flying up to the top of the cube. I can see that she is eyeing up the jump to next door....wing clipping is in order, I feel. Next door do love the chickens and ask about them daily but with Ginger camped out there most of the time I think that a demonic pekin might be pushing it a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I end up marching round next door armed with my landing net - essential chicken wrangling equipment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zircon Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Yep, happened to us a few weeks ago, luckily the neighbours were ok, and the hen came dashing back when we called her and rattled the corn tin. Fence damaged in storms & to be repaired ASAP. Costs to date: Hens only cost £36 for all 4 Hen House £400 Build permanent run £100 New fence £1000 And I convinced hubby that they were going to be cheap to run !!!! My kids are now selling excess eggs to teachers and the hens are earning their own keep (as long as we dont include all of the above !!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Tilytinkle Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Hello again, Ooops . okay remembering NOT to encourage hubby to read this site after all, especially don't allow hubbie to see this post . . considering my initial reason for buying chooks was simply it just had to be cheaper than buying free range organic eggs Ahem. one cube, 3 chooks, feed & bedding & fencing & oooh soo much more than i thought later looks like a lot of organic free range eggs worth Yes lets have a turn my hair grey thread . .soo just how much in total does keeping chickens cost in reality to what you 'thought'!! ie set up, & then weekly bills . . Ooh dear, I'm going to need soo much fencing. Great posts though, so glad this site is here for support. Ms Tilyisgoingtobeskint & perhaps annoy the neighbours too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Mine mostly 'free range' behind their omlet netting - cheaper than new fencing. We have a beech hedge - when they are let out into 'our' bit of the garden they love it under there - and no gate. They don't usually wander onto the road these days but when we first got them we had a few incidents of them visiting the neighbours (following their beaks). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 BIG update...I have lost a chicken properly this time. It seems that Mistletoe the ex-batt has gone walkies. We searched everywhere for her but to no avail. Please excuse these ramblings of a drunken, worried woman. Hubby took me out tonight for a Valentines meal but we discvoered poor Mistletoe missing just before we left for the restaurant. Have just been out to look again but can't see her. I feel like such a bad chicken mummy. Will get up extra early and look for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I hope you find her Janty; you can't have enjoyed your meal for worrying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 I didn't enjoy it. Felt terrible really. Poor hubby had gone to lots of trouble...arranging overnight babysitting, booking taxis, etc. and we ended up coming home early and looking for a chicken. I haven't slept. Iknow that it's not light enough and that she is probably roosting somewhere but I have been all round the garden again looking for her. I am going to get dressed in a minute and wander around the neighbourhood with a torch. Heaven knows what it will sound like if I get stopped by police. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Oh no! I missed this thread last night. I hope you find her at first light. Poor Mistletoe. What a shame your evening was spoiled too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 I hope you find her safe and well Janty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 *fingers crossed* that you find her safe and well, Janty. Sorry your meal was spoiled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Been doing some detective work. It seems that Mistletoe wandered over the fence at the back of our garden into the cul-de-sac at the back. She was seen by a lady who lives there. She said that as she didn't know anybody who kept chickens in this area, she got her husband to take the hen to the alley way at the side of the fish and chip shop (why she couldn't have just called RSPCA I will never know). We have walked up and down the alley way but can't see her. Hubby is printing out leaflets for us to put through doors and our local Co-op has offered to put up an A4 poster with her picture on asking if anybody has seen her. I have called our local police station but there is "Ooops, word censored!"ody there until 8am. RSPCA opens here at 12pm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Sorry...I have hijacked this thread....will start a new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 she got her husband to take the hen to the alley way at the side of the fish and chip shop How odd. Why didn't they put her in a box and keep her safe till at least they could call someone. Chances are she will be very close by. All the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Oh dear! Fingers firmly crossed.. chickens seem to be on walkabout at the moment, after that one that Kate found. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy the Whippet Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 One of mine once got over into next doors garden - they keep chickens as well but weren't in at the time. I had to go through their front garden - into the back garden - grab my chicken and then run back to my house. I was really worried in case anyone saw me coming out of their garden with a chicken under my arm - they would have thought I was chicken napping! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Tilytinkle Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Oh dear, bless you & Mistletoe - hope you find her & all back to normal. Many best wshes with you Ms Tilysprayersarewithyou (due date 6th March) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
