Advice: Neighbor Chicken Invaded My Fenced Run

[CoopBoots]

Please help me think this through. There's a sad looking little leghorn mix chicken who stalks my property. She's on my porch or around my large chicken run all day, hunting any food spills, spills from bird feeders, and of course pooping everywhere. She disappears somewhere to roost and if I chase her across an acre or so she goes to my next-door neighbor's property where they keep numerous chickens all over their half-fenced property. There's no way on their side to keep her in.

Well, today I caught her IN MY CHICKEN RUN. Eating my feed, bold as brass, having scared off my own chickens. She's not in excellent health and I've been trying unsuccessfully to keep her away, but now I'm seriously involved because my birds' health is at stake.

I've captured her for inspection and potential quarantine. If the neighbor cannot keep her home, the only way I see to keep her at a safe distance from my girls is to cage her until either they can or I determine she's safe to stay here with mine.

I don't want to just kidnap a chicken. She isn't my property but she could be endangering mine. I like the neighbors but they just let their animals do whatever... Mine may not have an expensive fence but it does keep them inside and they don't go visiting folks.

Should I just offer to buy her?! Is there a better way of addressing this? I can't really afford to upgrade my own run to keep her out...

 

[JoanieShrubs]

Offering to buy her is the kindest thing to do, so that's what I’d do. Chickens get dealt a pretty rough hand in this world, giving even one bird a better life is a contribution.

 

[tlcmurphy]

They may just give her to you if they have so many they can’t keep track of them?

 

[CoopBoots]

They may just give her to you if they have so many they can’t keep track of them?

It's possible; she certainly is no prize winner in her current condition. I'll get a picture in a minute...

Offering to buy her is the kindest thing to do, so that's what I’d do. Chickens get dealt a pretty rough hand in this world, giving even one bird a better life is a contribution.

I really do mean to be kind, but I'm really nervous that it will just seem like I'm insulting their keeping arrangements.

I've thought of wording it like, "I don't know what diseases my chickens do/don't have and I don't want your other birds exposed, so how about I pay you for this one so nothing goes back to the rest of your flock?" Technically I really can't know what they do or don't have, even though I think everyone in my flock is healthy... Does this sound like a good approach??

 

[tlcmurphy]

I think that’s very well put. Good luck!

 

[CoopBoots]

Anything of immediate concern in her appearance?

My thoughts:

1. Poopy bum. Worms?
2. She's either pecked on the head often or her rooster has pulled a lot of feathers. (She's never escorted over here by one either and seems completely friendless, is she outcast for health reasons by her flock??)
3. She's looking dirty and ragged (but it is molting season...)
4. Her eyes are both this odd (to me) color. My mixed leghorns all still have golden eyes. Is this normal?
5. I'll need time to observe, but she's not coughing/sneezing/exhibiting bubbles in the eyes at this time
6. Initial poop seems normal
7. Comb is a bit dry and pale. Again, could be molt, would be interesting to see if she lays...
8. Appetite is enormous. She definitely is over here primarily for food and is (to me) pretty skinny, even for a leggy. She's still eating about two hours later...

 

[Shadrach]

See what your neighbours have to say on the matter. If it was me I would be thinking about trying to keep her.

But, you also need to think about your chickens; not just regarding health matters but also social arrangements which can be equally important. Single hen introductions are rarely easy.
If you already have Leghorns that should help.
If you have a rooster that should help as well if he's also a Leghorn.
Give the girl a chance is my view. She's had the gumption to find where better food is and she knows there is competition there.
Do the quarantine bit no matter what your neighbour says.
A dirty bum can be many things but worming her whether you keep her or not would be an act of kindness as would dealing with any other parasites you may find.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would not worry about quarantine - it was broken a long time ago. I think she is molting, and they all look like they are practically dying when they do that. I really don't think you need to say anything to anyone about an unmarked bird that strayed onto your place.

If they come over and ask about her, you can say she was a stray. But I doubt they will.

Mrs K

 

[CoopBoots]

Update:

Kept her overnight. The neighbors wanted her back, despite the $25 offer to just "re-home" her here, so they came late the next day to collect her. She was back on my porch the following afternoon and I had to herd her back.

The next morning, today, she popped back into my run for brunch. Sigh. Both of her wings have been severely clipped but it's done nothing to keep her from squeezing through their half-fence or mine.

She's back in jail with me until the neighbors bail her out again. They've mentioned locking her up for a bit as well, and while I feel badly about it, I'm not sure what else can be done. I don't think the usual kind of fencing would even cut it now she's learned a few tricks...

 

[CoopBoots]

Well, in a complete about-face change of heart or mind, I now own Chicken Jane free of charge.

Time to plan out better quarters and quarantine procedures...

Her poop is most often a liquidy mess. She surprised me with an egg this afternoon that I was saving for when the neighbor picked her up, so she may not be in a deep molt just yet. I'm thinking worming, lice/mite inspection, constant food for the skinniness and eventual feather regrowth.

I have a few hens who resemble her so she won't be a complete odd-ball, at least. Might add her to a younger sub-flock eventually, assuming quarantine goes well.