smartmoose
In the Brooder
Hi: A friend gave me two chickens over a week ago. I have a coop, food, water...everything they need. I kept them in the coop for 3 days as he suggested. And then I let them out. They came back each night... up until two nights ago. Just before sunset I saw a cat chase them into the woods. And they didn't come home. They spent the night in the woods.
Yesterday, I saw them in the woods again, they would enter the coop during the day when I wasn't around (tomatoes were gone), but by sunset, they were back in the woods.
Today, I managed to catch one of them in the coop (bungee cord, stick, pulled the string, etc). The other one is still out.
I need to know: Am I doing more harm than good? I figure, I will let the captured chicken calm down a bit, and then will lock her in the henhouse and open the coop. Hoping to get the other chicken into the coop this way.
Or am I just going to stress BOTH of them to death? I would rather them be wild chickens than dead chickens. Please give me suggestions on what to do.
Yesterday, I saw them in the woods again, they would enter the coop during the day when I wasn't around (tomatoes were gone), but by sunset, they were back in the woods.
Today, I managed to catch one of them in the coop (bungee cord, stick, pulled the string, etc). The other one is still out.
I need to know: Am I doing more harm than good? I figure, I will let the captured chicken calm down a bit, and then will lock her in the henhouse and open the coop. Hoping to get the other chicken into the coop this way.
Or am I just going to stress BOTH of them to death? I would rather them be wild chickens than dead chickens. Please give me suggestions on what to do.