Anyone have luck catching a feral chicken?? UPDATE: Rooster caught, no hen

[21hens-incharge]

I have kept Cochin's for many years now. The foot feathers can get gross IF the run is all soggy with soupy mud.
I have ways for them to get out of the mud. I have roosts in the run and can set pallets in there. Roofing part of the run was the most helpful. I also add straw if we get super soggy.

My coop is huge and some birds simply choose to stay in if the weather is bad.

My smaller coop got the run covered since the big blue girls are in it. And it gets little winter sun.
I may have already posted these..... It looks like heck but works.

The first pic has the plastic raised. Cool thing is I can easily raise and lower to increase air flow. The sun hits this side for about two hours a day in winter.
Muddy feet are not fun for them at all.

 

[Suzi18]

I have 5 Cochin bantams and since I have sand in my run and coop their foot feathers stay nice and clean. When they are out free ranging and they get muddy the sand cleans them up pretty quickly

 

[Suzi18]

Speaking of CB. One of mine has just started to go broody. She just started laying 3 weeks ago for gosh sakes! I don't have a wire bottomed crate but I do have several hard plastic cat carriers. Can I put her on one of those....no bedding...up on bricks so the air can circulate underneath. It's plenty cool outside now. Do you think that will work ok? I also have a fan blowing on her on low to cool off her belly. Any thoughts??

 

[apryl29]

I have kept Cochin's for many years now. The foot feathers can get gross IF the run is all soggy with soupy mud.
I have ways for them to get out of the mud. I have roosts in the run and can set pallets in there. Roofing part of the run was the most helpful. I also add straw if we get super soggy.

My coop is huge and some birds simply choose to stay in if the weather is bad.

My smaller coop got the run covered since the big blue girls are in it. And it gets little winter sun.
I may have already posted these..... It looks like heck but works.
View attachment 1158469 View attachment 1158470
The first pic has the plastic raised. Cool thing is I can easily raise and lower to increase air flow. The sun hits this side for about two hours a day in winter.
Muddy feet are not fun for them at all.

That's a great idea. Unfortunately our run is pretty big & flat and I wouldn't be able to cover it in plastic.. snow. I feel like we're constantly modifying the coop so maybe one day I'll have the $$ to do a better design of the run. I saw photos where they used the wire to make a domed run, but it was after I finished my original run. I just added on with snow fence which has worked well for me so far. Now my leghorn cockerel is in the original run b/c the girls won't leave his tail feathers alone.. plus he's getting big scary spurs so it makes me think it's better to keep him separated from now on.

I have 5 Cochin bantams and since I have sand in my run and coop their foot feathers stay nice and clean. When they are out free ranging and they get muddy the sand cleans them up pretty quickly

I recently started thinking about adding sand to my run, but I'm not sure how good of an idea it would be b/c that's where I toss in their treats, like watermelon, grass, etc. I am going to adjust their roosts/ poop board this weekend so I can put some trays under them and thought about using sand there since it'd be way easier to clean, but I saw most people use PDZ.. but I wonder if the chickens might eat that stuff.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Making a sheltered area inside a run is pretty easy. A couple wood sawhorses with a piece of plywood screwed on top works pretty well actually.
My old run had that and the birds would hang out on top AND under it.

 

[Suzi18]

I use large low metal dishes to give them their treats. ie: watermelon, kale, blueberries etc. They do end up tossing it out on the sand but they have no problems eating off the sand. The sand actually helps to provide extra grit. It stays so nice and clean. I do a quick scoop up everyday with a kitty litter scoop but truthfully the sand dries up most of the poop before i even get to it. I know its not for everyone but I love it. Especially with a lot of feathered feet running around

 

[SueT]

How do the foot feathers work w/ poop and mud? Do they get super gross?

Re foot feathers, I have a little D'Uccle pullet and was worried about that. But she carefully preens her foot feathers just like all the other feathers and they stay nice and clean. Of course, her foot feathers are mostly black, that probably helps. Her little feathered steps are so cute.

 

[Molpet]

I saw most people use PDZ.. but I wonder if the chickens might eat that stuff.

PDZ is ok for chickens to eat.. it acts like grit.. it is a volcanic mineral and mined like grit.

 

[apryl29]

PDZ is ok for chickens to eat.. it acts like grit.. it is a volcanic mineral and mined like grit.

Good to know! Thanks. I'm soooo tired of scraping poop of the poop board already. Scooping would be much easier and hopefully less gross.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Speaking of CB. One of mine has just started to go broody. She just started laying 3 weeks ago for gosh sakes! I don't have a wire bottomed crate but I do have several hard plastic cat carriers. Can I put her on one of those....no bedding...up on bricks so the air can circulate underneath. It's plenty cool outside now. Do you think that will work ok? I also have a fan blowing on her on low to cool off her belly. Any thoughts??

My bantams are beyond stubborn about being broody. I think you will NEED a wire bottom cage. A solid bottom allows them to still sit.
I gave up trying to break my Bitty and gave her chicks the last couple years.