I found a chicken, please help!!

[wolftracks]

You might as well look ove Chookschick's pages. She's got so much helpful information. Besides, once you get hooked on chickens you'll want to build an incubator and hatch chicks and when anyone has a question I give them the link to her incubation page.

OK first a coop. Not that I ever do it that way, but it's getting cold out and I know you want to get that bird outside and comfy.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Hello, and welcome to BYC. i think i saw your post on craigslist asking for help in identifying your chicken. Are these the pictures of your chicken?

If so, it's hard to tell by the pictures, but looks like an American Game Bantam hen. Here is a picture from Feathersite of one. Does she look like this?

i live in Fair Oaks and if you are within driving distance, i can help you with a waterer and feeder, i have lots of spares. i can also give you a rabbit hutch to use as a coop until you can make something larger. But a rabbit hutch will work in a pinch for one or two bantams. Most of my spare hutches have 1/2" hardware cloth covering the regular wire, which make them more secure. i have used them for broodies raising babies. i use pine shavings on the floor and in the nest boxes for my chickens. It's a lot better to use than straw, which can harbor mites.

You will want to get lay crumbles for her. Not sure where you are located exactly, but there are several good feed stores in our area. Crushed oyster shell is also good to offer free choice. If you live in the City of Sacramento, they are now allowing residents to have up to three chickens, so you're safe there. It is good for chickens to have a buddy, so i would take wolftracks up on her offer of a pullet. Or you might be able to find one closer. i do see chickens advertised all the time on craigslist.

i use dog kennels as runs or pens, then put galvanized roofing panels over the top for protection from the rain and predators. i'm sorry i don't have any spares of those, but i see them all the time on craigslist. i have also built my own panels out of pine fir strips and hardware cloth.

Very kind of you to save this little hen. i think chickens are such a delight. Mine make me smile every day. i'll pm you my phone number. Give me a call and we can coordinate getting a hutch and a feeder and waterer to you.

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
Wow!! The BYC community is just as generous and amazing as this wonderful act was! ESFarms, that's very sweet to offer a safe rabbit hutch and supplies- and Wolftracks, you are a doll to say such nice things. I feel a hugathon coming up!!!

Jordanwang07, you should totally take these folks up on their offers. Get ready to have wonderful pet chickens and all the good that comes with them. Also, you asked about noise- hens often cackle for a few minutes before or after they lay. You may hear that some days. Getting more hens won't make it any worse, but they, too will likely do it, so it's potentially 15/week cackle spells for a few minutes. Most hens don't lay daily, and so it's not constant. They'll also make noise when threatened, so be aware that if you hear it, she may need help.

 

[wolftracks]

WOW what a great offer!

BYCers are the best!

 

[chkn]

I love a good rescue story!!!

 

[Mama duck 8]

Its ok to raise a hen by herself she will be fine

 

[Momma on a Mission]

I love it when everyone pitches in to help a newbie out.

I started out with 6 chicks, then my son wanted to pick his own, soooooo he got a buy one get one free at our local farm store. And let me tell you, there hasnt been a day go by that I don't laugh at my girls and one boy. They are 8 weeks old and my roo is my buddy. He sits in my lap and helps clean my "feathers".

My husband has finally seen the light. And has asked me if we wanted to expand in the Spring. What can I say? Chickens Rock!!

 

[jordanwang07]

Update:

Hi everyone, thanks again for all the kind advice and generous offers from everyone. I'm really blown away by how welcoming you all are to someone you've never met in person.

I spoke with Colleen "Enchanted Sunrise Farms" on the phone this morning, and I concluded it would be best if I give away the hen to someone else. I was really excited for my new pet, but it was probably best for the hen to be raised by a more experienced owner, and someone who has more time to devote to her. Colleen got me in contact with Ryan "Rosecomb-Ryan" and we figured the hen would be much happier living on some acreage with other chickens. So I delivered the hen to Ryan, and she'll be living on a farm with 300 other livestocks.

Ryan is very experienced, and concluded it's a young American Gamefowl who hasn't started laying eggs yet. She's in great health, looks alert, feathers are intact, etc. So hopefully her new owners would enjoy her presence.

So thanks again for all your help. I really enjoy rescuing animals, and this was my first rescued chicken. It wouldn't have the happy ending if it weren't for you guys. Have a great weekend!!!

 

[Rosecomb-Ryan]

Quote:
Oh gosh... Lol... She is a very nice healthy hen! I cant wait to turn her with the flock.. Im keeping her seperate for a few weeks.. Thing is... I dont truthfully know how many birds we have on ranch B.... We have project chickens (Phoenix, Rosecombs, and Bantam & Standard Cubalayas) So we get some very cool long tailed chickens.

From what I can tell she is a pullet, Looks like some kind of Game... She is in very greay health and looks perfect feather wise.. no lice/mites nothing... Someone took awesome care of her..

 

[geepy]

So glad she found a great home.