I Found A Chicken! What Do I Do?!?!

[ducksarebetterloljks]

Hi everyone,

This is the first time I have used this forum and I registered just to ask this question…

This morning I woke up at around 6:30 and I found a white chicken in my back yard. I just left it there and continued going to school and hoping it would find its way back home. Now I just got home and it is still there, pecking and scratching at the worms and bugs. I live in inner city Brisbane (Australia), and I do not know if anyone in my street has chickens. I just gave it some spinach, I chopped up and apple, and also gave it some strawberries and half a piece of bread.

There is a busy road off the back yard, and I have no idea how it could jump over the fence (1.5m). I also locked my cat indoors so there wouldn't be a nasty accident…

What do I do? should I just keep it? should I put posters up to contact me if they have lost a chicken? should I make a box for it to sleep in for the night? I am in a bit of a pickle, please respond with some useful tips!

 

[Katydid2011]

It's nice of you to offer it some food in addition to what it can scratch.

I would definitely put up flyers. If nobody comes and you want to keep it, you'll need to clip it's flight wings on one side (you can find videos on YouTube that show you how), and it will need a secure place, a coop of some sort, that can be locked at night. In a pinch a dog kennel or something like that will do. Chickens would rather perch up high than nestle down into a box or something like that. If you do use a box you should bring it inside at night and fix some kind of lid on it (breathable, of course). If you don't want to keep it and nobody steps forward, I would call the appropriate city authorities or an agency like the Humane Society. Good luck!

 

[ducksarebetterloljks]

Thanks Katydid2011,

I will put out some flyers for the immediate vicinity this afternoon, and if no one replies, well it can have a new home at our place (I just love the sound of the clucking noises). Thank you again!

 

[Katydid2011]

Fair warning. If you keep it, you'll likely end up wanting more! Chickens are addictive!

 

[slim1986]

Quote:
Too True! I lost a hen to a neighbor hood dog once and after some convincing my wife agreed to let me pick up a replacement hen at the local poultry swap, well my 1 replacement hen turned into 6 replacement hens and 4 little "replacement" chicks! She was mad until she saw how adorable they were! Oh and welcome to BYC ducksarebetter! Lol

 

[Ole rooster]

I agree putting up the flyers is a great idea. But somehow try to find a way for the present to have a protected place for it. It would really make you sick to come home and find it spread out all over the yard.

 

[waterchicken]

Find it's owner yet? Or is it yours now?

 

[artsy1]

yes, update please..........do you love it?

 

[hcppam]

x2
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[slim1986]

Any news? Did you find the owner? Are you the new owner?