HELP!! New chook on the loose!

[roseapalooza]

Hi all! Im brand new to chicken keeping (Im actually a little afraid of birds but Im getting over it!). We just bought 5 Wyandotte chooks (4 hens and a roo), we plan to free range them on our 10 acre property and have been keeping them confined to their coop for the first week....until little Miss Ginger made a break for it today (after 4 days here) when I was putting new straw down!!! Ive been trying to catch her for 45 minutes and not even got close, shes hiding out under a fern about 10m from the coop. It wont get dark for another 4 hours and I dont want to leave the coop open as the rest will escape too!!! Ive tried to tempt her with food. Nada. I dont have a net or a trap. Should I just open up the coop at sunset and hope she goes back inside?? Please help!!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi Welcome To BYC

If she came with the rooster and other hens (grew up with them) He should call her when it's roosting time. But...if she will listen will be the question.

Put some goodies like scratch, sunflower seed, etc. in with the rooster and other hens - just a little, see if he will call all the girls and this will entice her to come out. You may need to be still and quiet.
Just some thoughts - I know my girls listen to their guy and come when he calls about goodies.
Something else you may have to do is just watch where she is. Once it gets dark, she will hunker down somewhere, then you should be able to get her easily.

BTW - She is gorgeous.

 

[MommaHen2Many]

She most likely will go back to the coop at dusk....Could you possibly "contain" the other birds in something...and then entice the "loose" chick with goodies to come back inside...or to come to you for the goodies?

My husband told the kids to "catch the birds and put them in the coop then close the coop" one night when I was not home. The kids had been taught how to care for the birds but not hubby as he didnt want anything to do with them. The birds had been free ranging and our son said told him that wouldnt work...and it didnt....I came home 1.5 hours after dark and was told 2 chickens were locked out as they couldn't be caught & dad said to close the door..and no-one knows where they are..I'm out in the dark looking for these birds....it was COLD. I found them on the "ROOF" of my coop (about 8 foot up) above the door they would have entered if it was open! Keep an eye on her if you can until dusk....I bet she will be clucking at the door!

 

[roseapalooza]

Thank you so much for your advice! Yes, he is calling her and shes clucking back but shes holed up under her fern for now and not coming out. Ill keep an eye on her, hopefully she'll want to go back home closer to dark, if not....my husband can help catch her :-/ Thanks again

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Will she go....or will you have to catch her

 

[MommaHen2Many]

i'm gonna be waiting and watching...too

 

[roseapalooza]

Pointless update: Shes still under the fern. I took a tub of kitchen scraps out to the coop and sat there with the door open in the hope that their happy noises would lure her back...not a bar of it! All of this is made a million times harder by the fact that I have a dog and 2 cats to restrain PLUS a 10 month old who refuses to be put down!!! Hurry up sunset!

 

[roseapalooza]

Ginger Farley is back in the coop! I waited until 20 minutes before sunset, threw some scratch in the coop and sat inside (its a converted garden shed) and within 5 minutes she sauntered back in all full of tall tales! Thanks all for your advice and support

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Ginger Farley is back in the coop! I waited until 20 minutes before sunset, threw some scratch in the coop and sat inside (its a converted garden shed) and within 5 minutes she sauntered back in all full of tall tales! Thanks all for your advice and support

LOL Love the description - "all full of tall tales"

I'm so glad she came in and is safe and sound.

 

[MommaHen2Many]

Happy Endings are the best!