At around 4:30 it was just starting to get dark, I had her in my backroom while I finished up her temp coop. I went inside to bring her out to her little area, and I squated down with her in my hands and put her in, while I watched her - she kept eyeing the trees - she scooted past me and out the door! Flew to my compost container - I tried to grab her tail feathers but she flew 25 feet up to my neighbors oak tree!
My heart just dropped. I was devastated. I grabbed some scratch in a cup and was trying to lure her back down.
She slowly walked along the branch towards my yard - I thought she was gonna come down - but she flew over to my cedar tree, which was against the corner of my house - but atleast she was in my yard. She settled there for the night, but I could'nt reach her, I have a step ladder not a regular big ladder. I didn't sleep well. I got up at 3:45 and went out to check on her, I could see her shape in the tree.
Around 5:30 she started to stir and I was talking to her to come down, I had food for her. Titmice, nuthatches and chickadees started giving her a hard time in the tree.. she flew out into my neighbor's front yard! I got my DD and we went out to try to get her. She is smaller than my standards and she's sleek and fast. About an hour later we corraled her into my back yard. But she's a flyer! We both tried to contain her in our yard. (We have 6' cedar fence all around) Poor girl, she was confused with her new suroundings (sp) any quick movement and she tried to fly over the fence.
I made a hook thingy to try to catch her but she would get more frightened, and I didn't want her to fly away again.
Speckledhen - I had to do this, I had no recourse at the time, and I let my two hens out. They did the job for me, they rounded her up and proceeded to express dominance on her. I felt bad for her, but Ruby and Pearl were telling her like it is. She hung around the yard and didn't try to fly away, she was interested in the other two hens. But they were like - just keep your distance, bird!
Around 3:30 p.m. I watched the action with them, so I could witness where she would go that night. Yup - 4:30 she flew back up to the cedar tree - but only halfway up. Yes! I felt so relieved! I went out at 7:30 p.m. and she was all comfy in the tree, and I snagged her, scratched her neck til her feet relaxed and put her in the greenhouse. She has a nice nest in there, and food and water. But I HAVE HER BACK and she's safe. Today I go to Lowe's for better equipment to build her a safer place. I hope I didn't contaminate my other two birds, but what is done is done.
My heart just dropped. I was devastated. I grabbed some scratch in a cup and was trying to lure her back down.
Around 5:30 she started to stir and I was talking to her to come down, I had food for her. Titmice, nuthatches and chickadees started giving her a hard time in the tree.. she flew out into my neighbor's front yard! I got my DD and we went out to try to get her. She is smaller than my standards and she's sleek and fast. About an hour later we corraled her into my back yard. But she's a flyer! We both tried to contain her in our yard. (We have 6' cedar fence all around) Poor girl, she was confused with her new suroundings (sp) any quick movement and she tried to fly over the fence.
I made a hook thingy to try to catch her but she would get more frightened, and I didn't want her to fly away again.
Speckledhen - I had to do this, I had no recourse at the time, and I let my two hens out. They did the job for me, they rounded her up and proceeded to express dominance on her. I felt bad for her, but Ruby and Pearl were telling her like it is. She hung around the yard and didn't try to fly away, she was interested in the other two hens. But they were like - just keep your distance, bird!
Around 3:30 p.m. I watched the action with them, so I could witness where she would go that night. Yup - 4:30 she flew back up to the cedar tree - but only halfway up. Yes! I felt so relieved! I went out at 7:30 p.m. and she was all comfy in the tree, and I snagged her, scratched her neck til her feet relaxed and put her in the greenhouse. She has a nice nest in there, and food and water. But I HAVE HER BACK and she's safe. Today I go to Lowe's for better equipment to build her a safer place. I hope I didn't contaminate my other two birds, but what is done is done.
