Catching "wild" chook?! Need advice!

[chickengeorgeto]

She's several neighborhoods down, she's very Wiley and of course my fiancé has no finesse... She's up a tree now, she's very cute though. I think unless we got an actual trap we might not be able to catch her ;(

(That is a pic of her, small comb and fluff on feet)

If you mean that she is roosting in a tree then she is as good as caught.

Once she has gone to roost use a long T shaped object like a long pole or thin board with a perch on top. In the dark of the night gently but firmly push up and slightly back on her breast from below near her feet. She will transfer her feet to the pole-perch to keep her balance, then turn off your light or torch and gently lower her to within reach of either you or a helper. This will depend on how long your pole-perch is. The best way is to lower the pole hand over hand. I use to have a telescoping 30 foot fiberglass pole that the electric company used to reset sprung breakers or fuses on electric poles. I fitted a short piece of hoe handle on top. Practice on one or two of your own hens. If she is not too high up an 8 or 10 foot 1x6 board works just as well. If you have trouble the first time or two you try this and the hen ends up on the ground, a bright flashlight or torch to dazzle her with while your helper slips up on her from behind is a must.

 

[sphinxface]

If you mean that she is roosting in a tree then she is as good as caught.

Once she has gone to roost use a long T shaped object like a long pole or thin board with a perch on top.  In the dark of the night gently but firmly push up and slightly back on her breast from below near her feet.  She will transfer her feet to the pole-perch to keep her balance, then turn off your light or torch and gently lower her to within reach of either you or a helper.  This will depend on how long your pole-perch is.  The best way is to lower the pole hand over hand.  I use to have a  telescoping 30 foot fiberglass pole that the electric company used to reset sprung breakers or fuses on electric poles.  I fitted a short piece of hoe handle on top.  Practice on one or two of your own hens.  If she is not too high up an 8 or 10 foot 1x6 board works just as well.  If you have trouble the first time or two you try this and the hen ends up on the ground, a bright flashlight or torch to dazzle her with while your helper slips up on her from behind is a must.

We saw what tree she sleeps in but we can't even see her when she's up there, it's also attached to another tree she might have jumped in... my current plan is using a tractor run type design i am in the middle of building to house her, and catching her in that with a bungie cord pulling in on the door and a stick on a rope to prop the door open. My fiance is getting her a little more comfortable around him so I think this might work >_>

 

[sphinxface]

As I was finishing up an hour out trying to entice the chicken closer to me, our realtor friend drove by and told me the chicken belonged to someone who lets the chicken be out there. The person she mentioned does have an open faced coop in their yard, but all I see inside are pigeons?

I dunno, they didn't answer their door, but the neighborhood is primarily Asians, they have weird customs/lifestyles that maybe they think it's ok? Also the realtor is a bit crazy, I can only believe half of what she says sometimes... Thinking of leaving a note on the door for them to call or email us?

 

[aart]

Sighs...SHM @centrarchid Dude, relax, not every conversation needs to be syntaxed for scientists consumption.
With all due respect, I very much appreciate your knowledge, accuracy and analysis, I have learned a ton from you about chickens(all of them)......
.........but you really ought to practice on identifying your audience once in a while and adjust to it.
Given your background, I found it hilarious that you anthropomorphised the chickens feeling fear at being called a chook.

I know you have a sense of humor in there and won't be offended by my address.

I love the term chook! That's what they say right....chookchookchookchook?

I find aussie and limey colloquialisms amusing and fun.

Had a 'wild' hen chook in my yard late last summer...took days to catch her. Off her shrub roost at night was unsuccessful.
Finally set up a wire crate with a wire running from crate to nearby shed with window where I could hide to close door once I enticed her in there with feed.
Gave her to a friend who wanted colored eggs, she was an EE, after weeks of roosting in woods at night and all winter in the coop she finally laid a couple nice green eggs then got eaten by a coon when friend left coop door open too long at night.

 

[centrarchid]

Sighs...SHM @centrarchid
  Dude, relax, not every conversation needs to be syntaxed for scientists consumption.
With all due respect, I very much appreciate your knowledge, accuracy and analysis, I have learned a ton from you about chickens(all of them)......
.........but you really ought to practice on identifying your audience once in a while and adjust to it. 
Given your background, I found it hilarious that you anthropomorphised the chickens feeling fear at being called a chook.
I know you have a sense of humor in there and won't be offended by my address.

I love the term chook! That's what they say right....chookchookchookchook? 
I find aussie and limey colloquialisms amusing and fun. 

Had a 'wild' hen chook in my yard late last summer...took days to catch her. Off her shrub roost at night was unsuccessful.
Finally set up a wire crate with a wire running from crate to nearby shed with window where I could hide to close door once I enticed her in there with feed.
Gave her to a friend who wanted colored eggs, she was an EE, after weeks of roosting in woods at night and all winter in the coop she finally laid a couple nice green eggs then got eaten by a coon when friend left coop door open too long at night.

I adjusted and understood meaning as later post if read would indicate. My humor can be dry and not realized as was case in very first post. No science in discussion, rather common sense offered to original question.

 

[sphinxface]

What do you guys think of that "coop"? It doesn't look like a normal chicken coop to me?

 

[centrarchid]

Looks OK to me. I would look for another bird. Feral birds you can acquire. Those claimed by another party even when off claimants property are a much fuzzier situation. If bird where mine then someone trying to take it would have to face me in a pretty serious wrestling match. Only party that could be in contention for bird ownership would be one that owns land the bird forages on.

 

[sphinxface]

One of the neighbors I actually talked to didnt seem very happy about the fact that the chicken was out there, and I Could be wrong but the laws seem like they have to stay in your enclosure on your property?

 

[centrarchid]

In some states / localities that is likely to be situation that the animals are supposed to be confined to the owners property. Here as I understand laws I can not simply claim a neighbors stock as mine just because I catch them on my land. The state has to be an intermediary in that process where the owner, if known, must be identified and informed of what is going on. If current owner does not act within a certain amount of time then state can auction animals off at no more than market price. If you care for animal found on your land then owner can be obligated up to the animals value to pay for that care.

From another perspective, if people in the chicken's current neighborhood have no concerns about such free-range animals then that should be OK. One household in the community should not be able to override, particularly if it is manifested largely along ethnic / racial lines. This is America where tolerance of differences should be given priority.

 

[sphinxface]

Good info, I shall research