Looking for Help/Advice

[teyjr]

I just joined Backyard Chickens. I don't raise chickens but someone abandoned a hen in our neighborhood and I am trying to find a way to help her find a new home. The hen has camped out in a common area in our townhome subdivision. I am very concerned for her safety given various predators and traffic in our area. I have attempted to get close to the hen several times but she is very spooked. We have fed the hen several times and she seems to be in good health

I live in Atlanta. If anyone can provide help or advice, I would very much appreciate as hate to see any animal put into such a dire situation

Also, I located an animal sanctuary which offered to provide her a home but they will not assist with trapping the chicken, which would appear to be very challenging

 

[Judy]

Try bribing her into a trap or box with food. They will usually eat most anything you eat. A bit of meat or fish would be good, or some bird seed or corn. Maybe the shelter or DNR or similar will loan you a live trap.

 

[amnich]

If someone left her there, you may have luck getting her to come near you if you bring her food as posted above. If she is clearly feral and has had minimal to no human contact (which I assume is the case, no one who handles and loves their chickens would desert them like that), you will probably have more luck using a net or something to throw over her to trap her. Chickens can be pretty skittish and she may not trust going into the trap, even if there is food in it. They are much more docile at night when they are sleeping, so it will most likely be easier to catch her then. They usually go to bed as soon as it gets dark, so you won't have to wait until midnight or something crazy to get her. Thanks for helping her!!!

 

[gracierooster]

If it were me, I would wait till she went to sleep and catch here. Chickens always roost at night and always in the same spot (generally) so she probably already has her favorite sleeping place. You would just have to find her, keep an eye on her (keep hidden so she doesn't know you are watching her, chickens are to bright but they are cautious) then when she flys up to whereever it is she roosts, you can catch her at dark. The problem with this is how high she roosts. Good Luck!