Neighbor Chicken will not leave

[lverner]

Over the last few months, we've had 3 hens and 1 rooster come to visit. Lately there's just one hen that keeps coming back. And now she's starting to stay for longer time periods. This weekend she was 'visiting' and we let our girls out of their run. A couple of our girls chased the visitor off but she kept coming back. She wasn't getting chased out of the yard but just a few feet.

We have isa browns, rhode island reds and barred rocks. She's a MUCH smaller chicken breed. I don't know my breeds that well so I don't know what she is (picture below).

Tonight, she was back. We let our girls out and a couple of them 'sort of' chased her off but not as bad as before. She kept coming back. It was like she was trying to mix in. After awhile she was just hanging with them, scratching and eating goodies from the yard and puddles.

As it got later in the day (almost dusk) she found her way into the run and even acted like she was going to head into the coop to roost for night. Had our girls let her, she would have. Over the weekend once it got dusk, we did see her high tail it out of our yard. Tonight she stayed and is on top of the run, trying to squeeze underneath the overhang from the roof and bedding down.

She doesn't belong to our neighbors and we really don't know where she came from. Of course we have asked but no one seems to know? That said, if we can't find her rightful owners, what should we do with her?

 

[The Moonshiner]

Would you not want to keep her?
I think your hens will accept her sooner then later and if someone doesn't take her in she will end up predator bait one of these nights.

 

[lverner]

For sure we'd keep her! And yes, I'm concerned about predators where we live and why we lock the girls in every night. If we were to put her in the coop would there be hell to pay tomorrow? We work all day and she wouldn't have any way to get out of the run.

As a side note, she seemed more skittish when me or my husband were outside. I'm not sure we could catch her to put her in the run.

 

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

I agree. From The pics she kind of looks like a white leghorn

 

[aart]

For sure we'd keep her! And yes, I'm concerned about predators where we live and why we lock the girls in every night. If we were to put her in the coop would there be hell to pay tomorrow? We work all day and she wouldn't have any way to get out of the run.

As a side note, she seemed more skittish when me or my husband were outside. I'm not sure we could catch her to put her in the run.

Set up separate coop/run for her?
Not sure how'd you get her in there....I have a long story about 'trapping' a stray hen.

Did the other 2 hens and rooster belong to your neighbors....or more strays that have now disappeared?
Sounds like maybe someone dumped them?

 

[Aunt Angus]

Maybe she will just follow them into the coop one night. If she goes into the run again, might you be able to get her then? I think it'd be very kind of you to let her join your flock. She is probably lonely and in desperate need of safety.

 

[moniquem]

If it were me and no one claimed her and my chickens accepted her, I would just let her stay. I would be concerned about cooties she may have... but she's already hanging out with your flock so a little late for that I guess.

 

[mesalina87]

I am glad you are ok with wanting to take her in, if, she will cooperate with that.

 

[lverner]

Set up separate coop/run for her?
Not sure how'd you get her in there....I have a long story about 'trapping' a stray hen.

Did the other 2 hens and rooster belong to your neighbors....or more strays that have now disappeared?
Sounds like maybe someone dumped them?

I'm not sure where they came from. it feels very much like they belonged to someone around the area and perhaps now the others aren't around? There are a lot of predators in our area. This one very much wants to be part of this flock. A co-worker offered to let us use a live trap but I'm not familiar with that. We have an older coop that we could put her in for the time being but the trick is getting her in there.

She spent the night and was hanging out this morning. She's not leaving on purpose....

 

[lverner]

I am glad you are ok with wanting to take her in, if, she will cooperate with that.

That's just it, it's obvious she wants to be there but she's pretty skittish when we are around. I suppose if she goes into the run tonight we could shut the door and see if she will make her way to the coop and roost?