Lost and Found City Chicks - to keep or not to keep

[Mistyray_lynn]

This morning my girlfriend called from the country to tell me (a reluctant suburbanite) that her cousin awoke yesterday (city-dweller) to 3 chickens in her backyard. The woman had asked around and couldn't find where they came from. She was wanting my girlfriend to come take them to her farm, but my girlfriend couldn't get in to pick them up.

So here we are. With three young chickens in a makeshift fence in our backyard. I have a flock of 7 girls already (1 and 2 years old). The birds were very calm and easy to catch from her fenced backyard. My 6 year old and I were able to round them up pretty quickly. They seem like young pullets to me and maybe the one is a roo, but I am just guessing. There is a barred rock. Maybe a white/light brahma. And I don't know what this other one is.

This morning I didn't even want to go get them. It seemed like a lot of work to drag my three youngsters to round up some stray chickens. But the little things were/are so calm and gentle (more than my own flock) that now we're a bit attached.

I assume a quarantine would be needed, but am not sure how I could do this. Or if it is even worth trying to keep them. I have a rather small place and have tried to be kind of particular about having good layers.

Anybody have some advice to share regarding this? I'd appreciate hearing some pros cons and what I should consider or do from here.

TIA

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I think people often quarantine in a dog kennel cage in the garage. Is the country home out of the question?

 

[CamdenLab]

This morning my girlfriend called from the country to tell me (a reluctant suburbanite) that her cousin awoke yesterday (city-dweller) to 3 chickens in her backyard. The woman had asked around and couldn't find where they came from. She was wanting my girlfriend to come take them to her farm, but my girlfriend couldn't get in to pick them up.

So here we are. With three young chickens in a makeshift fence in our backyard. I have a flock of 7 girls already (1 and 2 years old). The birds were very calm and easy to catch from her fenced backyard. My 6 year old and I were able to round them up pretty quickly. They seem like young pullets to me and maybe the one is a roo, but I am just guessing. There is a barred rock. Maybe a white/light brahma. And I don't know what this other one is.

This morning I didn't even want to go get them. It seemed like a lot of work to drag my three youngsters to round up some stray chickens. But the little things were/are so calm and gentle (more than my own flock) that now we're a bit attached.

I assume a quarantine would be needed, but am not sure how I could do this. Or if it is even worth trying to keep them. I have a rather small place and have tried to be kind of particular about having good layers.

Anybody have some advice to share regarding this? I'd appreciate hearing some pros cons and what I should consider or do from here.

TIA

I would first put an ad on Craigslist and try to find the owners. Things happen (kids leave gates open, there's a dog or cat that spooked them and they found their way out of an otherwise secure fence, etc.) and they could be someone's beloved pets. On the other hand, they could have been dumped by someone who got in over their heads.

If someone takes them back, educate them on how to keep their flock contained if it looks to be a situation of ignorance.

If no one claims them . . . well, I'm sure someone here has some ideas.

Good luck!

 

[Mistyray_lynn]

The homeowner is still looking for the chicken owners. So far no luck.

I think people often quarantine in a dog kennel cage in the garage. Is the country home out of the question?

No the country home isn't out of the question. She has just said that if I wanted them I could have them. I don't think the rooster will be able to stay, simply because, at least so far, we have not found a rooster that got along with my small children. I do have room for 3 more birds though.