timemine
In the Brooder
Hello all!
I am really stumped with what to do with one of my chickens, who, incidentally, is/was one of my favorites. Some background, I live in an urban neighborhood and have a very very large yard with a 6 foot privacy fence all around. I have a flock of 9 hens that free range all day. I have a large 100 sq run with a large coop that I lock the girls up in only at night.
I have a Speckled Sussex hen named Wilma. Several months ago she started going over to my neighbor's yard. There was a spot in the fence between our yards that was bad that I didn't know she was getting through. My neighbor is cool so would just call/text me and I would go get Wilma. I repaired the fence, clipped her wings and she was STILL getting over there. So, finally I saw her fly/flop over the 6 foot fence. I added some metal fence to the parts that I thought she could get over and she was still magically getting into the neighbors yard. We eventually realized she had been laying her eggs in my neighbors yard. I locked Wilma and the other ladies up in their run for two months to see if she would forget about her nest. That didn't work so my neighbor and I gave up and made a small chicken gate between the fences so she could just go back and forth between the yards. One day about a month and a half ago Wilma disappeared. My neighbor couldn't find her in her yard and I couldn't find her in mine. Then two days ago my neighbor texted and said Wilma was in her yard! Turns out she had been secretly living there the whole time. We looked around and couldn't find any nests or any place she had been hiding. I brought her home and she was very disoriented and a little rough looking. She ran straight to the waterer and drank water for about a half hour. I stayed outside and made sure none of the ladies would pick on her and that she was okay. Later I went out and she was gone. I'm assuming she's back at my neighbors. I peeked over the fence and didn't see her so she must be in her hiding spot. I'm going to have to go get her again, but what can I do?
I doubt my neighbor wants a secret chicken living in her yard. She doesn't have access to food/water other over there. And she's no longer coming home even for water. I don't want to have to lock all the girls up again and it didn't even work last time. I'd rather not get rid of her, but don't know of any other options. Anyone have any ideas?? How do I stop a runaway chicken?
I am really stumped with what to do with one of my chickens, who, incidentally, is/was one of my favorites. Some background, I live in an urban neighborhood and have a very very large yard with a 6 foot privacy fence all around. I have a flock of 9 hens that free range all day. I have a large 100 sq run with a large coop that I lock the girls up in only at night.
I have a Speckled Sussex hen named Wilma. Several months ago she started going over to my neighbor's yard. There was a spot in the fence between our yards that was bad that I didn't know she was getting through. My neighbor is cool so would just call/text me and I would go get Wilma. I repaired the fence, clipped her wings and she was STILL getting over there. So, finally I saw her fly/flop over the 6 foot fence. I added some metal fence to the parts that I thought she could get over and she was still magically getting into the neighbors yard. We eventually realized she had been laying her eggs in my neighbors yard. I locked Wilma and the other ladies up in their run for two months to see if she would forget about her nest. That didn't work so my neighbor and I gave up and made a small chicken gate between the fences so she could just go back and forth between the yards. One day about a month and a half ago Wilma disappeared. My neighbor couldn't find her in her yard and I couldn't find her in mine. Then two days ago my neighbor texted and said Wilma was in her yard! Turns out she had been secretly living there the whole time. We looked around and couldn't find any nests or any place she had been hiding. I brought her home and she was very disoriented and a little rough looking. She ran straight to the waterer and drank water for about a half hour. I stayed outside and made sure none of the ladies would pick on her and that she was okay. Later I went out and she was gone. I'm assuming she's back at my neighbors. I peeked over the fence and didn't see her so she must be in her hiding spot. I'm going to have to go get her again, but what can I do?
I doubt my neighbor wants a secret chicken living in her yard. She doesn't have access to food/water other over there. And she's no longer coming home even for water. I don't want to have to lock all the girls up again and it didn't even work last time. I'd rather not get rid of her, but don't know of any other options. Anyone have any ideas?? How do I stop a runaway chicken?
