4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Abbey Road Girl]

When I went out to secure my four girlies in the Cube at near-dusk tonight, there was an unexpected frantic flutter of wings coming from the extra perches I'd installed near the front of the run.

 

The four ladies had put themselves to bed (I'm surprised at how early they have been doing this), but the fluttering wings belonged to what I think was probably a collared dove. According to my bird book, they are attracted to chicken runs and they almost fit the description, though the bird seemed to have a divided tail like a swallow. (Obviously I wasn't going to distress the poor thing any further by taking down details!)

 

However, a lovely little birdy it was, a soft grey critter. I wasn't unable to coax it out of the run with my torch. I spoke with it face to face in the hope that it would understand my best intentions and then went to work to dismantle the upper half of the front of the Cube to allow it to escape.

 

The poor thing was unable to grasp the situation so I had to take it in my hand and set it outside and it flew away. I do hope that it was not too traumatised and will recover.

 

I must confess that one of my first thoughts was to ask for help from the RSPCA, but as they are a law unto themselves (in addition to doing good work), I did not want to call them in.

 

Tomorrow I will become more informed about the clips which hold the Cube together. Doing it in near darkness was not a really good idea.

 

So be aware fellow hen wranglers, you may have to handle a similar situation. Best of luck! I'm glad it was all done and dusted before Eastenders came on.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Poor little thing . I wonder if you hadn't noticed it, if it would have snuggled down for the night with your girls .

 

I'm glad you managed to persuade it to get out .

[Abbey Road Girl]

Poor little thing . I wonder if you hadn't noticed it, if it would have snuggled down for the night with your girls .

 

I'm glad you managed to persuade it to get out .

 

Actually, ANH, the ladies were roosting a bit further back on the roosting bars than they usually do. They surely outnumbered and outweighed the little grey youngster but were keeping their distance.

 

All the same, it was tempting to think of adopting it! Was relieved this morning that there was no sign of it having been frightened to death.

 

It's an amazing experience and a rare privilege to hold a wild bird. Chickens are indeed domesticated by comparison.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I have to say I was expecting a cat curled up in the nestbox not a collared dove

 

Wild birds are indeed another breed, I rescued a goldfinch from my SIL's back porch a few weeks ago, it had flown in the door & crashed against the patio door at the other end of the porch...it's a big porch!!!.....I sat outside with it nestled into my lap & suddenly it snapped out of it's stupor & flew away...just after DH came out with his camera

 

Sha x