Chicken just showed up?? ****NOW "Big Chickens Story" a story of a found chicken***lol

[newbie32]

Two developments...Today when I threw out scraps Big Chicken was right there with the rest of the flock!!! She still runs away when I toss stuff out lol. She still thinks im throwing stuff AT her. So I have to divert the flock and toss her something fast before the flock sees so she has time to come back to it. I wonder at her behavior during this time. either she is used to having things thrown at her or has never had scratch or scraps thrown to her. BUT when she was coming back for a piece of bread I had tossed her and one of the small bantams ran for it she did her "growling" noise and chased it off. I wanted to yell YAYYYY!!! lol but had to keep quiet. Then after the scraps where thrown and I sat in my chair to watch she actually passed within a foot of me. Eyeballing me the entire time but she did it. She is coming along. Im proud to have her.
Second development......I posted "found chicken" ads in my area. much as I want to keep her to myself I would not feel right if I did not try to find her owner. I was called today by a person who indeed lost an Easter egger. 5 days before I found her...or rather she found me. I did not put a description. Just found a chicken. He has described her well and I fear he is the owner. Thing is this person lives over 20 miles away from me. I had the right idea thinking hawk. Person said they lost 5 so far to a hawk. Im sure its the same hawk and it has learned where to get a free meal. why he has not done something to fix the prob I don't know and I don't want him mad at me right now lol. If I can I will try to talk him out of Big Chicken. But really 20 miles?? A hawk would not fly that far? And how far would it fly? I can only assume a hawk grabbed her and latter dropped her and she somehow got away. That is a long way for a chicken. Any thoughts? And keep your fingers crossed he will let me keep her.

Well that sucks if she goes back because her other flock has changed its pecking order and she has found herself a home in yours. Plus-and most important-he obviously doesn't know how to deal with hawks so she is at risk to go back. I would offer something to him to keep her. If he says no then maybe you need to inform him that she is now integrated into your flock and that he is risking her being eaten by a hawk. Has he said he wants to come get her? Do NOT offer to drive her to him. I am sad you posted the ad

even if it was the right thing to do, he wasn't looking for her apparently.

 

[Tricoglossus]

Well, when a bird of prey kills, it attacks by stabbing all 8 of its talons into its prey, in a crushing vice-like grip. The talons penetrate internal organs and the victim dies. If the bird of prey was to then fly away with it's kill, and then drop it miles away, that killed animal would either be very dead or have substantial injuries if it were still alive. I don't remember you saying that your found chicken had life threatening injuries, therefore I highly doubt that it got attacked, grasped, and subsequently dropped by a bird of prey. It may have been spooked if it saw one, and run away, though I can't imagine why it would run away 20 miles from home.

Another possibility is that the chicken got out of it's enclosure and into/onto someone's vehicle, hitching a ride away from home and to the vicinity of your property, where it got out. Unlikely, but it does happen to dogs and cats sometimes.

 

[WYNot]

Yep. A couple of years back I was visiting family in the Dayton, OH area. When I got home to the Cleveland, OH area I heard a meowing. Looked and looked. Finally opened the hood of the vehicle and there was a young kitten up in one of the few spots where it was safe from all the belts and fans and such. She had ridden there the entire way back; over 200 miles and a gas stop.

 

[deacons]

For some reason it makes me really sad to think about you giving this new hen back. I agree I would try to offer $$ in order to keep her.

 

[Christabelle]

My personal opinion is that there is no way it is his hen- at least a very low percentage. A chicken ending up 20 miles from home seems very unlikely, if not impossible. I'd say keep her.

 

[Nutmeg101]

I agree with christabelle

 

[chicken pickin]

Oooo interesting, a possible owner calling. I agree with some of the others and say it is doubtful she wandered 20 miles from home and also doubtful a hawk nabbed her and dropped her with out injury. If it is his chicken the right thing to do is give it back to him if that is what he insists. It hasn't been long enough that she has fully lost her place in her original flock. But seeing as how you found her, cared for her, integrated her into your flock and you obviously care for her it is definitely worth offering him something in exchange for her. Did he say he wanted her back or that he was going to come by your house, did you ask yet how he felt about you keeping her?

 

[Tricoglossus]

Well if you don't want to give her back, and the "previous owner" contacts you again, you could always say that she has disappeared from your property. No one would know any different.

 

[Aamanda]

Well, when a bird of prey kills, it attacks by stabbing all 8 of its talons into its prey, in a crushing vice-like grip. The talons penetrate internal organs and the victim dies. If the bird of prey was to then fly away with it's kill, and then drop it miles away, that killed animal would either be very dead or have substantial injuries if it were still alive. I don't remember you saying that your found chicken had life threatening injuries, therefore I highly doubt that it got attacked, grasped, and subsequently dropped by a bird of prey. It may have been spooked if it saw one, and run away, though I can't imagine why it would run away 20 miles from home.

Another possibility is that the chicken got out of it's enclosure and into/onto someone's vehicle, hitching a ride away from home and to the vicinity of your property, where it got out. Unlikely, but it does happen to dogs and cats sometimes.

I agree but the hawk does not always get the right grip. We have had small rabbits tumble out of the sky!! And aside from being stunned be ok. I have never been able to handle her to check for any marks under her feathers and except for missing some tail feathers she seemed ok. I am not saying im buying the hawk idea its just what he reported. I told him he could come look at her but he had to bring some pics of her. He said he had some and is due here any time now. So we will see.

 

[chicken pickin]

Good luck meeting him and let us know how it all works out.