chicken bark Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I know I should have clipped their wings but I thought it would be okay - doh! I now have one escapee chicken - typically the only one I've never been able to pick up. I've tried enticing her back with corn but she is probably really full now and enjoying the unexpected freedom. The other two chickens are being no help as they are busy sitting on each other in the nesting box both trying to lay an egg at the same time. Any ideas how I can get the roaming one back into the run. She flew over an electric fence. It would be quite funny if I felt reassured she would go home eventually. Then I would definitely clip their wings! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerryegg Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I got one escapee back with a trail of bread, usually a forbidden food. Otherwise will she come home to bed? Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleOwl Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Maybe give her a break from the corn for an hour or two, so long as you are around to keep an eye on her if you are in a foxy area. Mine will do ANYTHING for grapes, if you have any of them to try! Have you tried standing in with the other chickens and igiving them treats? I know that if any of mine hear anything interesting going on with the rest of them they usually need to have a nosey and be part of it. It is my guess she will bring herself home at the end of the day, so you will need to keep an eye open for her so you can maybe open the fence and let her in. When mine would fly over the fence they never seemed to understand how to fly back in! Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted April 16, 2010 Author Share Posted April 16, 2010 This is a complete aside LittleOwl but I also live in North Yorks. Where did you get your columbines from? I'm after more chickens (don't tell my DH) but want some that don't go broody, are friendly but a bit different too. Do Columbines fit the bill? Back on the escapee chicken... I'm going to get my Mum over and we are going to try and round her up in the electric fencing (not switched on of course) then with a lot of faffing about we might guide her back to the hen house. Fingers crossed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I have one hen who spent her first 6 months with us doing a condor impression over the fences into neighbouring gardens - this was despite her having clipped wings. I always find a (fishing) landing net indispensible when catching errant chooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Picture me a few weeks ago, suited and booted for work, chasing one escapee chicken round the garden (the air was blue, as by that time I knew I was going to be very late for work!) I was heard to say that if she hadn't been the one that lays blue eggs, I'd have left her to it (not true, of course). I even resorted to waving a rake ... a couple of tips, firstly chasing them, as you no doubt know, just results in much flapping and squawking, most but not all from the chicken, and gets them very flustered. Much better to retire for a few minutes and let things calm down. Secondly, as noted above, if they see their feathery friends enjoying a treat - or just if they find the others are all together and they can't join them - they often go back to the run and stand sadly outside, although of course they scamper off as soon as you approach! A trail of food is the best bet, and make it very sparing so she has to move on for the next bit each time. As you get nearer the run, have some spare to throw into the run as well as outside it - otherwise when you open the door your secure chickens will run out to investigate the treats and then you'll have three escapees! Finally, when the hen gets within grasping distance, grab it firmly and disregard all the shouts of 'mummy, you're hurting me'. If you catch her and then let her go again, it'll be even harder the second time. Are yours quite new? they do get a bit easier to catch once they are laying. I'd definitely recommend clipping their wings though. Hope you can catch her soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleOwl Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 This is a complete aside LittleOwl but I also live in North Yorks. Where did you get your columbines from? I'm after more chickens (don't tell my DH) but want some that don't go broody, are friendly but a bit different too. Do Columbines fit the bill? Have PMed you Chicken Bark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I was just wondering whether you have your chooks 'corn trained'? Mine are - they come when I whistle (it means corn) and makes life a whole lot easier when trying to get them in the run. Of course, there's always the odd maverick who decides to duck off in the other direction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted April 16, 2010 Author Share Posted April 16, 2010 Thanks for that advice. It's nice to know that I'm not the first. I can imagine you now Olly - at least I don't have work to worry about. I'm popping out to get grapes and tomatoes. Unfortunately my Mum has gone out for the day so I've only got 3 pre-schoolers for help. I wish I had Clarets fishing net to hand! And you are right Olly - this chicken hasn't started to lay yet. I just hope I'm still laughing about it tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValerieR Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Hey Chickenbark Just wondering how you managed with getting her back home? Val Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted April 16, 2010 Author Share Posted April 16, 2010 No luck with her yet. Having a break will try with some bread after dinner. Not received your PM yet LittleOwl - does anyone know how long they usually take to arrive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Can you borrow an angling net, or maybe you have one lurking in the garage. I use one all the time now for catching reluctant hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorianGray Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 'Fraid I can only wish you luck in getting her back. However I do have another point / question, namely re grapes. I thought I'd read / heard somewhere (not on here) recently that grapes were off limits for chucks, this is despite giving them without any ill effects for 18 months. Does anyone have any fact to coroborate or disprove this notion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Grapes are fine for them, just keep all treats to a minimum and at the end of the day only. As with anything else, and excess will cause problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted April 16, 2010 Author Share Posted April 16, 2010 Hurray Good old bread. Had to virtually take down half the electric fence (Chicken bark the chicken (not me) was very wary of it) but the desire to gobble bread won out over the possible threat from the fence. Thanks for all your advice. I shall speak to my neighbour who has said she can help clip their wings. I've also moved the hen house into the middle of the fenced off bit so that chicken bark can't climb on it and fly straight over the fence. Now off to do something with my poor neglected children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Glad she's back in! Hopefully when she's got her wings clipped and get a bit older she'll get bigger and less flighty when she lays. I always 'herd' mine into the corner and then they have nowhere to escape to. We had a naked neck cockerel at the farm that escaped for 2 weeks! So fast it was stupid, so we left him to it, but then he took a liking to running to the shop + cafe to crow , so we had to catch him with a net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Glad to hear she's back in!! I remember, a few years ago, being asked to round up some chickens that had got loose....thankfully they'd only got into the stable yard and paddocks but the owner wanted them caught up for obvious safety reasons!! We managed to get all the hens in easily but the cockerel decided it was a personal challenge to his manhood...especially in front of the ladies. We tried bribing him, tricking him...and the last option was trapping. We'd set up a funnel to get him shut into a stable...the doors were on ropes to they could be pulled shut as soon as he was in... My role was the chaser...!! I ran after him, and we started a merry chase round the yard...only, the route he took led us the long way round the barns...through the mud...round the corner he turned, which would've led him straight into the funnel. Only, under the mud was a sheet of wood. I don;t have clawed toes so had nothing to grip on to turn or stop....and down I went, my momentum on the slippery mud, crashing into the fence. If that wasn't humiliating enough, the cockerel saw the trap and realised his pursuer was down...so ran back and jumped straight over me to freedom!! Thankfully, the next day, he decided yard life wasn't his cup of tea...and strolled home of his own free will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted April 16, 2010 Author Share Posted April 16, 2010 If that wasn't humiliating enough, the cockerel saw the trap and realised his pursuer was down...so ran back and jumped straight over me to freedom!! Thankfully, the next day, he decided yard life wasn't his cup of tea...and strolled home of his own free will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleOwl Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Glad they are back!! Just wanted to say I've tried to PM you for the second time, but I am getting the message that someone with that name does not exist....now I know you do cos you're here! But maybe that will help work out what's wrong? Anyway, I got my columbines from here http://www.glencroftpoultry.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
