HELP Please - a wild female Chukar has integrated with our flock of hens/bantam roosters but have a question

[SelenaCO]

Hi there! A wild Chukar has been hanging around our flock of hens/bantam roos for two months now. The flock has totally accepted her, she eats and drinks with them, runs around with them etc, it's adorable. It's starting to cool down in the evenings here on the Western slope in CO and I'm worried about her because she hasn't started joining them in the coop at night. She's gone in the coop during the day, I've seen her go in and out...but not at night. The other night I walked out to shut the coop windows and she was ON the windowsill ledge...I backed up slowly to not scare her and in the early morning she was still there so she had stayed all night, poor thing. Am I going to need to get an outdoor insulated cat house or something to add out there in the chicken run for her? Or do you think she'll just finally end up going in the coop once it starts getting really chilly at night? Would greatly appreciate any insight! Thx much

 

[Debbie292d]

She's a wild bird, so you can't do anything to confine her or that could be breaking federal law. If she wants to go in the coop of her own accord and you're okay with that, then I'm not seeing the harm. I think the worry of her possibly carrying diseases, lice, or mites is far gone by now.

As for you building her a shelter, that would be thoughful, but doesn't this bird need to find its family or other chukars? Maybe you could call the DNR and ask them about it.

I bet that's pretty cool seeing them hang out together. We had a wild turkey hen coming here for weeks, but the chickens didn't like her and would hide while she was here.

P.S. Welcome to BYC!!

 

[MysteryChicken]

She's a wild bird, so you can't do anything to confine her or that could be breaking federal law. If she wants to go in the coop of her own accord and you're okay with that, then I'm not seeing the harm. I think the worry of her possibly carrying diseases, lice, or mites is far gone by now.

As for you building her a shelter, that would be thoughful, but doesn't this bird need to find its family or other chukars? Maybe you could call the DNR and ask them about it.

I bet that's pretty cool seeing them hang out together. We had a wild turkey hen coming here for weeks, but the chickens didn't like her and would hide while she was here.

P.S. Welcome to BYC!!

They're a none native species. They originate in Pakistan, & Iraq. They're also found in other countries around it.