Tutti Frutti Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Hope she's back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laxeybobby Posted January 17, 2010 Author Share Posted January 17, 2010 Sorry for delay. Not good news I'm affraid. We have not seen any sign of her today I left the run open through the night with the chicks locked in the coop, and throughout the night until about midnight I went out with a torch in hope she had returned. Then this morning I woke up about 6am to the cats going mad in the utility room trying to force open the cat flap. I went outside at that time and nothing. Then went back to bed until 7:30 when I went out in hope again. Nothing. This time I let the chicks (Chicken Shirl - they are about 20 weeks old) and then went for a walk around the gas works and then up to the grounds of the school that is situated at the top of the steap incline that is the back of our garden (Lucy - Laxey School), climbed over the railings and looked down to our garden, but couldn't search as its too dangerous. I fed the chicks this morning and they made lots of noise but mum didn't show. Plus I noticed two chicks perching in the run looking out toward the undergrowth as if they knew she was out there. So throughout the day we have looked out through the kitchen window and walk out into the garden calling, but not even a distant cluck to ease our guilt. We have now resided that she is now lost, (enjoying her freedom), never to return. I personally feel sick and guilt as we took on these chickens from the MSPCA to look after and give them a good and safe home and I have let her down. My wife is more optimistic thinking she will still return, but I am not so sure, and if she does how would we catch her? Thanks for all your support. Its great to be part of a forum that actually has concern. We'll keep you informed if anything changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Dont give up hope yet , its still not too late for her come back. maybe she just wandered too far and lost her bearings. Is it worth while putting up posters or knocking on a few doors?. people may see her and not think she belongs to some one close by. If there are no predators and she can find food there is still hope I know everyone on here still has their fingers crossed for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Oh I was really hoping she'd be back by now... there's always tomorrow. She's probably found herself a comfy tree to roost in. Do you have mealworms or other treats that she recognises that you can rattle to lure her home? Please try not to beat yourself up, easy to say I know... I'm sure her chicks' cheeping will lure her home when she's ready (and forgotten that the cat spooked her). You're doing your best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Theres still hope, especially with no foxes Could be worth asking other people to keep an eye out, she can't go too far so someone must see her at some point. I found a chicken in our garden took her in and found her owner a week later, we didn't know there was anyone local who even had chickens! Cornering her and then using a net would be the easiest way to catch her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 I'm so sorry to hear that. It's not your fault, hens are very scatty creatures. She may still turn up. Her chicks are all grown up, I was thinking they were small, but they will be more than ready to leave her.We will just have to keep that she is out there and coms back home. ....... Ask around the area, someone must see her.Thanks for letting us know. {Hugs to you both} xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Sorry she's not shown up yet. but I am sure she will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 I'm so disappointed for you that she hasn't come home . As the others say though, don't give up hope. She will probably wander home at some point. I'd hesitate to "catch" her in case it doesn't work and she goes off again. A trail of mealworms if you do spot her may be worth a try? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laxeybobby Posted January 22, 2010 Author Share Posted January 22, 2010 Update 2 Well having gone through the week not having any signs that our AWOL hen is still around. This morning on my day off whilst I was making breakfast and looking out of the Kitchen window, there she was wadling down the embankment to the edge of the fence, where she began to scurry around looking for food. However she never came over the fence and into the garden. I went out to the garden, but as soon as I got outside she was aware of me with her head up high, and she waddled off back up the embankment. So I got some corn and brown bread and scattered some around the area and then into the garden, in hope I was being watched by her. About half an hour she returned, but was never tempted to come into the garden. And as soon as I opened the back door, off she went again The only consolation is that she is still alive, but I think being in captivity is not for her. As she was a rescue hen (found wandering a main road with her chicks according to the MSPCA) I wonder if maybe she was wild and was only caught as she was with chicks and now she has decided to return to the wild. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beulah59 Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 At least you know she's able to fend for herself pretty much ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 Oh what great news! So happy shes still around. At least she knows where there is going to be food when she needs it. Is she able to get into your garden. In time she will probably come back properly. She'll be lonely out there on her own so I would think she would want to be with the rest of the flock and her chicks. You,ve made my day Keep us updated - Please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 So glad you have seen her. You need to gain her confidence. She must be very lonely out in the wood. She has to come in surely? Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 Mealworms! Mine will sell their souls for them. As Shirl says, she will be lonely out there, so do hope you get her. I don't suppose a large butterfly net would do the trick? Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 Mealworms! Mine will sell their souls for them. As Shirl says, she will be lonely out there, so do hope you get her. I don't suppose a large butterfly net would do the trick? Tricia A trail of meal worms, preferably LIVE ONES. Just the ticket, she will never resist that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 So glad you've seen her and know that she is well My lot would sell their souls for grapes (cut in half to make them last longer) - may be easier to get hold of and leave a trail of? Here's hoping she decides to come home properly and stop worrying you, the ungrateful little madam! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 Ditto - at least you know she is safe and still about It might be an idea to try and catch her though, rather than leave her out so she won't get run over and is fed - there must have been a reason why the MSPCA caught her. Can you get round to the garden from your front door? Maybe go that way round so if you do scare her, you scare her into the garden. Maybe someone could lend you a net? It seems a bit excessive but I was reading someones blog about an escaped chicken and they used a cat trap to catch her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laxeybobby Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 Update 3 Well she regulary visited us throughout yesterday on venturing into the edge of the garden. I tried get round the back of the garden via the gas storage yard, but she heard me before she saw me and waddled off into the undergrowth. And this was the case every time I or my wife went outside to try and tempt her back. Today at the same time 8:30 she re-appeared and came to the same place. But upon seeing me off she waddles. So I have tried to make a pen out of some old fencing pannels next to where she appears open one end and I placed all the food in it. The plan being if she went inside I could come up and block escape. However when she re-visited us she eat all the sead lying outside the entrance but didn't go in. But to my surprise she came straight into the garden and made her way over to the chicken run, the boys where making a hell of a noise when they saw her. Thinking this was my chance I went outside and tried to approach her but she ran and took flight back up into the undergrowth I don't have any meal worm and to be honest as soon as she see's us she's off so I am unsure how this can work? I have tried grapes, raisin and corn. Nothing will persuade her to stay and let me approach. Whats getting to me is the fact she is coming back now but wont let us approach her - its frustrating and gut renching as my children are seeing her go away everytime. I thought about putting the chickens that we have in the run - back in their coop and open the run door. However catching the chicken in the run is a stressfull time for them. I read so many posts on this forum about chickens that come to owners and are being picked up with ease. What are we doing wrong? Why are ours so scared of us? I need a professional chicken catcher if ther is such a thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henhathnofury Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 I know that cat rescues have live cages that they use for escaped felines. Can you speak to the people that you rescued the hen from and ask them if they have something similar? Hens are generally drawn to food and even scavenging, she must be hungry..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 At least you know shes alright, maybe you could ring somebody to help catch her. As Henhathnofury has said, she must be hungry and naturally associates your garden as a feeding ground. When it goes darkish, perhaps you could shine a torch from your garden in the direction of the undergrowth. Chickens are fascinated by light in the dark and it may bring her close enough for you to catch her. Best of luck, i hope you catch her. xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 Can't help feeling if you catch her she'll be off again. Why not let her live wild but provide food and shelter when she wants it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 I reckon your best bet is to get her while she is brooding,as they go into a trance like state at that time. However,unless you know where she is brooding,this is going to be hard. Even a torch in the face won't wake them,so it may be worth going out & about in the area you have seen her & taking a look in the dark. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcatz Posted January 23, 2010 Share Posted January 23, 2010 Hi, I'm pleased for you that she is still coming to visit. I'd put a trail of pellets or corn down everyday plus a bowl of water and make the trail lead from the hill to the coop. So at least she is fed. Most chickens want to be with a flock so eventually she might hang around the coop more. Have you asked the people who caught her before how they did it? Do you have another coop that you could leave open. She might come home and roost in it one night, then you could catch her as she will be calm at night - although she could be used to roosting in trees. My chickens aren't too bad at being picked up. They are friendly and let me stroke them. I kind of trained them by giving them lots of treats like corn. They recognise the ice cream containers I used as their treat bowls and come running whenever they see me with them. I wonder if your chicken was born in the wild and has never had any human contact until now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laxeybobby Posted January 27, 2010 Author Share Posted January 27, 2010 Final Update She's home and in the run - Today at 4:30pm I came home from work and went out into the garden with the wife for something not relating to the chickens and as we walked past the run, there she was sat on top looking down on the chickens and talking away to them. Shocked we froze, afriad that she would fly away should we approach, but she approached us clucking away. My wife got some corn and threw it in the run and the chickens began feeding and she paced back and forth on top of the run trying to get the food. So I put some corn down outside the run and she jumped down and started to feed. Then I opened the run door and in she waddled as if she hadn't left Then once in the run she began by excerting her authority by pecking the others away from the feed until she had had her fill. (she did look a bit thinner than when she left two weeks ago) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 Yeyyy!!!!!!!! So glad she's home, have been checking this post everyday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 Wow, I've just read through all your updates and couldn't believe the last one . Hurray . What a little monkey, causing you all that stress . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
