Catching a Hen

[streeteurovw]

My MIL has one chicken left out of her entire flock that she doesn't want anymore. I’m willing to take her soon as my coop is built. Problem we are having is she is free range and has been for a year or so. We can’t catch her she’s just to quick!! What will be my best option on trying to catch her?

 

[sourland]

Find where she sleeps, and catch her while she is roosting.

 

[Isadora]

Find where she sleeps, and catch her while she is roosting.

X2

 

[Battlepants]

Find where she sleeps, and catch her while she is roosting.

Little side note gained from personal experience - wear clear safety glasses and a long sleeve shirt while doing this. If you don't grab her just right, there will be wing thrashing and possibly claws depending on the level of panic.

 

[3KillerBs]

Agreed. Taking a chicken off the roost at night is the best way to catch them -- less stress for both bird and bird-catcher.

 

[aldarita]

Hopefully she's not roosting up in a branch of a tree

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Best to find them at night.

To catch my more skittish girls (and boy), I 'herd' one towards a fence, then quickly scoop them up (I like to give them soft pets and a mealworm, so they understand 'Oh-the humans arms mean treats!'

 

[Chookiemom]

I say go out there just before twilight to see where she ends up and grab her later.