HELP! My hen is missing!

[CHIC]

So now she's been gone since Friday and she has come back the last couple of days but will not go in the coop. And you can forget about catching her! She is so smart and so fast. She is living in the woods and I don't know what to do. Any suggestions?

 

[Eliza]

will she come near the coop? food? can you create a trap of some sort that you can lure her in. Or, if you can find where she is setting up shop in the woods, you might be able to lay a hand on her when it's dark. Good luck!

 

[CHIC]

We have tried the trap idea. She is incredibly smart. I have never seen a bird as smart as her. I have not found where she roosts. We also tried putting food and water out and cornering her to the coop. I don't know what else to do. She is really good at getting away and hiding. I saw her last yesterday and spent hours trying to catch her. At least half of her tail feathers are missing but she is obviously good at getting away.

 

[CHIC]

This hen has been escaped since 8/18 and we still see her! She has been living in the woods and we can't catch her for nothing. She must have awesome survival skills!

 

[Uppity Peon]

You have to follow her at dusk and figure out where she roosts. Then come back an our or two later and sneak up on her when she is asleep. Bring a crate or something to put her in once you catch her. You might need a ladder or something if she is roosting in a tree.

 

[fldiver97]

Quote:
I agree, take the time and follow her. Then go out later with a flashlight and a box or crate. She is lucky she has survived so far but that can change any day.

 

[Booswalia]

Don't walk directly toward her. I photograph wild birds quite often and when I want to get close I slowly walk sideways toward them. It kind of confuses them as to which direction you're walking in.

You could also try a big net.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Yay!!!!!! I'm so happy she came back. (well sort of) Good luck catching her.

And I'm happy for your dog too!

 

[CHIC]

HOLY MOLY! After more than a month of surviving on her own in the woods, we finally got her back! Can you believe it? I almost can't I think its just crazy that she survived that long. We ended up catching her with a fishing net!

 

[AmyBella]

What an incredible story! I am so glad she is back safe and sound!