Laxeybobby Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Hi again, This morning disaster has struck and now panic has set in. We were cleaning out the coop when one of our cats got into the chicken area and spooked the birds. Disaster was that the mother flew out of the partially open entrance and out into the garden forllowed by three of her brood. The cat then followed them out and proceeded to play chase. Two of the brood made it back into the chicken run, a third I got hold of but the mother hen was chased and flew out of our garden into the dense woodland behind us, followed by the cat and me behind them both. I lost sight of them both within a minute and after a few more minutes the cat returned to the garden. We have been searching the woodland as best we can as it is mainly brambles and tree's on a steep upward climb for the last two hours, but we can't see nor hear her. Whats annoying is that I can seen every blue tit, pigeon etc flying in and out of the trees but not a fully grown chicken. My wife believes that she will return of her own accord as she has her young (all of which are looking for her) but I said why would she when she has her freedom and all the bugs, grubs, weeds and grass she can eat. However as we are new to chicken keeping could someone tell us if she is most likely gone for good and we need to knock this up to experience or if my wife is right and that she will return Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Oh dear, what a shame . You may find she comes back at dusk or if not, she may roost in a tree in which case she may be easier to spot. Do you have a treat that she likes? Calling to her and shaking a box of mealworms or corn may bring her out. I hope she comes home . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 I agree with ANH's post, lets hope you find her soon. xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laxeybobby Posted January 16, 2010 Author Share Posted January 16, 2010 (edited) Thankfully living on the Isle of Man we have no wild predetors such as foxes. They are not indigenous to the isle. So her only predetor would be the house cat I suppose and bird of prey. A few pictures of the back of our garden - she took flight over the compost heap beside the play house, then straight ahead deep in to the undergrowth. However we are in a valley and this becomes a steep cliff like hill upwards. To the left of the play house is an LPG Gas storage area that is very open, but no sign of her there. This is to the right of the play house. This is steep uphill and lots of brambles and dead ferns at the moment, and out of view is a fast running stream and waterfall. So I am hoping she wouldn't have gone that way. Its times like this that I feel sick as I was cleaning them out, and should have made sure that the coop run door was closed. Should we be looking into get the wings clipped of the others? Oh well I suppose we wait for dusk and see if she returns. Edited January 16, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 I'm sure she'll just be pecking about in the undergrowth and will make her way home eventually. It doesn't look like she'll wander too far as there will be loads of interest close by for her. There are no roads either so she'll probably be safe (especially as you have no foxes ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laxeybobby Posted January 16, 2010 Author Share Posted January 16, 2010 I'm sure she'll just be pecking about in the undergrowth and will make her way home eventually. We hope so. I take it then from what you have said that chickens do have some built in system that tells them that we are 'home'? Even though we have only had then for about ten weeks she would know the coop is home? I thought that being a bird she would just fly and wander with her freedom without a worry about the coop and the chicks left behind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Yes, she definitely will. It takes about 5-7 days (I think!) for "home" to imprinted on their brains. Omlet recommend you keep new hens in their run for that long before letting them freerange. I don't know how far away from home they have to be for this not to work though . Remember the phrase "chickens coming home to roost" - it's based on truth . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laxeybobby Posted January 16, 2010 Author Share Posted January 16, 2010 Update Well whist in the kitchen looking out towards the compost heap. I saw our mother hen. The wife and I went out but she just went back into the undergrowth , soon to be followed by the same cat that caused the problem in the first place. We then got another glymps of her up the top of the hill of the third picture looking down on us and the chicken run with her chicks inside. Well at least we know she never fell foul of the cats. So now with all cats caught and indoors, we need to somehow get her back into the garden and then into the run and the coop. And thats the million dollar question for us. How do we do this??? My idea is that we shut the remainder chicks in the coop and leave the door to the run open and hope that hen will return inside the run and say there. (a long shot probably I know) Any ideas from anyone else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 If the cats are inside, she'll hopefully come back ... theres still a few hours of daylight, and even if she's now back today if you have no foxes theres even more of a hope Leaving the run open is a good idea, she will know where home is after 10 weeks and will hopefully hear her chicks and go back to them. If it were me I'd leave it open overnight too with the chicks locked away ... she may come back just as its getting dark Wing clipping is a good idea so hopefully it won't happen again Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 That's great news . I'm sure she'll come back once the cats (and humans ) are out of sight . Keep us posted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Any news? is she back yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laxeybobby Posted January 16, 2010 Author Share Posted January 16, 2010 Any news? is she back yet? No sign of her - its just got dark here and the chicks had already gone into their coop when we went outside with the hope she was back. So we have now locked the coop and open the door of the run - in hope that she returns under the cover of darkness We feel sick that this has happened and even more so that she returned to the area around 3pm and we scared her back into the undergrowth. Its in the hand of the gods now I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Well, at least you know she's nearby . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 If its dark there now, she has probably found a nice tree branch to roost in. She will be fine, especially as you have no foxes. you could possibly try leaving a torch in the run, she may be attracted to the light. Dont beat yourself up about it as its something we all have probably done, I know i have. Its very easy to leave the run door open when your cleaning. It looks like a very beautiful place to live Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 She may well return at dawn, with cats inside & without foxes to worry about it's quite likely, I really hope so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 How old are the chicks? she should come when she hears them in the run tomorrow, be ready to let her in to them. Keep the cats indoors for as long as you can. (hope you have a litter tray) Waiting for news. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goosey Lucy Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 I'm only up the road from you if you need any help. Hope she comes back in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Hopefully she'll be back when she's hungry tomorrow If you do see her, could you go around the back to scare her out towards the garden?That way you can get her into a corner to grab/net her, or she could be scared and run into the run which she knows is safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Any sign yet? Good luck... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 I am on hot pins. Have to go and do some work. Will keep checking. I do hope everything is going well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Me too . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Can't believe there is no news yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Hope that she comes back soon. xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrambledhead Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 is she back? I am hoping no post is a good post! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Oh Dear i felt sure there would be news by now, all good of course. im so hoping she finds her way back home. Come on, Laxeybobby, please put us out of our misery, we need to know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
