Help! my chickens escaped and i cant catch it! any ideas?

[smudge111]

one of my chickens escaped last week and disappeared, but to day it reappeared, it can fly and wont come with in 20ft of us. i can't leave the pen open because the other chucks will get out, does any one have any idea how to catch it?

your help would be greatly appreciated,

 

[ChickenCharmer]

Since chickens are very social, I would expect it to hang around the coop to interact with the others. Maybe a cage w/ food, or a trap like that? When my chicken(s) escape, I use the fishnet. When they see it they know to go back inside immediately!

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

We throw corn on the ground and sneak up on it with a large fishing net...worked every time. I had flighty spooked D'uccles and we were still able to catch them. Move slowly though.

 

[tnchickenut]

I wouldn't know first hand, never had the issue. I have chickens who won't leave your side... but I think it would want to be with the others. What if you made a make shift run around the coop... have the coop closed to keep the others in... then the run open. Put the feed in the run, and then sit back and wait to sneak and shut up the run. (???)
I'm just thinking outloud here and, in my defence... it is 1am.

 

[tnchickenut]

OH OH OH!!! It hit me!!! I'll tell you about my trick I do with my ducks. I just put my arms out and "flap" them like wings... it drives them everytime. You just make yourself the dominant bird. It works for unfriendly roosters too.

I mean "flap" from out straight to your sides, towards your chest.... not up and down.

 

[jeremy]

Get a live trap- it works like a charm. Your bird will get hungry enough and walk right in. Ours was $40.

 

[cobrien]

I don't know ducks...if they are like chickens, you could open the gate an hour before sunset, they'll come out for an hour or so but will go right back in at sundown. Might have to stand guard a short distance away if you have predator issues.

If the escapee doesn't go to roost too high in a tree, you could also wait till the sun starts to go down and grab them, they can't see in the dark and are easy to catch.

 

[Southernbelle]

I wait until they go to roost at night and snag them.

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

I usually use the fish net. But one time a seven week old hen got out and got through the fence. (we live in the city). we never saw her again. i kind of joke that one day we will be driving down the road and see a fully grown hen walkin on the sidewalk. she probably got eaten though.