Help! Under siege by feral roosters in Caribbean

[enola]

Will they eat scattered grains? If they will you can catch them with live traps. Then maybe you can find someone that would help you out by taking them home to dinner.

 

[dragon30276]

Bugs bunny was always attracted by a robot bunny so maybe a robot hen would work as a lure. But a net would probably work.

 

[enola]

Feral chickens are a lot smarter than bugs bunny.....

 

[Kelsie2290]

X2, live traps are probably going to be the easiest way to catch them if they are lose and can fly well. Netting them with something like a long handled fish net may work if they are in the yard and you can run them along the fence. Live trapping does mean you wind up catching them one at a time usually though ... if you have time, pre-baiting helps (feed them in the spot before hand so they get used to eating there, and you can also have the trap there with the door set open for a few days so they get used to going in) ... if you have time to watch them (and a good place to be out of view but still be able to pull the rope), any large wire cage with a door you can pull closed with a rope/string will work also, bait the cage and when birds go in, pull the door shut, good way to catch multiple birds, works really well if they are not that afraid of humans. Scratch, corn or bird seed make good bait, or anything they are used to eating scraps, ie bread.
Do you know why they are going in the yard? If you can eliminate some of the attraction that may help.
Also check if they are using anything to help go over the fence that you can eliminate, they often use things near the fence as a stepping stone to get over higher fences. Do you know how high the fences are already? You don't really need a solid wall to help keep them out, if you add some height with something like wire or lattice etc that they can't land on top of or get through might be enough (make it so they can't land on the top of the wall from the outside)...
With a rental I guess a dog won't work, or motion activated sprinklers.

 

[Rueroo]

I like the nets idea. Thank you --- Four days to landing in Bonaire!

 

[Rueroo]

Did not see all the other replies, fantastic suggestions! And yes these birds are cagey (!). They figured out that i'm the only house in the neighborhood that has irrigation, in a fairly dry climate. Also I don't heavily landscape, but leave a lot of leaves and cover around my trees and cactus gardens, in which they forgage. Four days and counting. Back in two weeks. I hope to post a"Feral Chicken" update at that time. Thanks!

 

[Rueroo]

Yes I'm going to talk to the neighbor on the other side of the wall to see if he might have things along it that are giving the chickens a boost! It's a pretty high wall. Unfortunately the plants need the irrigation, and it's drip, not sprinklers!

 

[bnuckols]

Once I decided the chickens were singing "hallelujah" the crowing stopped bothering me here on Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands.