Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[VicW]

Two of our chickens escaped this morning. My OH and I have been having an ongoing 'discussion' about leaving them in their run unattended. I keep telling him not to, he keeps doing it.... ANYWAY this morning 2 of them escaped. (Guess I've won that argument now at least!!)

 

One we thought we'd lost as we hadn't seen it for hours and but then just spotted it on the road nearby. A van went past and scared it into a tree, she flew about 20m up!, and then a bit later she flew back down into the run and is now safely locked away! (Guess her wings need clipping )

 

The other we found quickly but is now hiding in a hedge about 100m down the road from our field and not budging. We've tried scaring her out and tempting her out with her favourite food, but she is not having it! She's the least friendly of the 4 (a cream legbar) and is the only one who won't eat out of our hands, so it's proving a bit difficult. Any ideas?? We're thinking now that maybe we should just leave her and see if she finds her way back. Have people lost chickens before and they make their way home by themselves? Any clever ideas for tempting/forcing them out?? It's a thick thorny hedge and we really can't get close to her.

[beach chick]

we had this several times, particularly with Sugar. if you really cant get her out, and I know how difficult it is, you will just have to hope she makes it home.

how long have you had them? if she knows where home is she'll hopefully gravitate there - could be worth going out just before dusk and checking all round your run, with any luck she'll be somewhere close by. check in the trees as well - Sugar was a devil for getting right up into the high branches! good luck.

[Egluntyne]

I find a fisherman's landing net very useful for catching escapees or skittish chickens.

 

Can you get your hands on one?

 

Good luck.

[VicW]

Thanks both for your replies.

 

Well, great news, she's home! As it got dark we decided to go for it and OH managed to get a hand in and grab hold of her legs. A LOT of squawking later, we had her and took her home. I think the noise was about her pride though, she is fine.

 

So, no more unattended free-ranging. And wings are being clipped pronto!

[chiocciare]

Great news.

I had to log back in just to see if she was home.

[beach chick]

oh thank goodness! they can be right little devils sometimes these chooks, but good news she is safe and well.

[Hen Watch]

So, no more unattended free-ranging. And wings are being clipped pronto!

 

I'm sure you know, but only ONE wing, so they are unbalanced.

Glad she's home safe and sound.

[HENthusiastic]

So glad you managed to get her home. Naughty OH

[Egluntyne]

What a relief for you.

[pistachio]

well done - I bet she's relieved to be home despite her protestations!