Not sure what to do for chicken that has wandered up to my house.

[ThisLostChick]

Looks like we have a new stray resident at our house - usually it is just cats and I know what to do for them, but am at a loss for what to do for this chicken, who I have named Chicky Boom. It has been here for about a week and roams about both the front and back yard and seems to like snuggling into some pine straw in a shady spot beside my front porch. We've given it some corn meal, because that was the only thing we had here that we could think of to give it (and there is always water available outside). But honestly, I don't know if I have given it enough or too much or if I should give it something else in addition. It seems perfectly content, but I can't help but wonder if I should be doing something else for it. Any and all suggestions are welcomed, as we are committed to it as long as it chooses to stay here.

 

[speckledhen]

Looks like a pretty Welsummer hen to me (red earlobes would say Welsummer, while white lobes would mean brown Leghorn, though her comb is very floppy for a Wellie hen).

If you plan to keep her, get a bag of layer pellets which will have the calcium for her egg shell quality. Have you found any eggs from her? She can eat scrambled eggs or cooked oatmeal or cooked cornbread crumbled up. If someone is near you from BYC, maybe they could give you a small amount of layer feed so you don't have to get a huge 50# bag.

She's probably finding bugs and greens on range, too, so she isn't starving, at least.

 

[Judy]

It may be getting a pretty good diet off forage. I wouldn't give a lot of corn -- it's kind of like candy to a chicken, and like a kid, they will eat it to the exclusion of healthy food. If you wish, you can give table scraps. Pretty much anything you would eat is fine for a chicken, except chocolate, and not much sugar or salt. Most raw trimmings are fine, too, anything people can eat raw.

 

[ThisLostChick]

I haven't found any eggs, although I haven't looked for any either. Thanks for the tip!

 

[ThisLostChick]

Thanks. That is great info!

 

[Kittyf]

Check that area where she likes to snuggle - you may get an egg every day or so!

She's a beauty!

Kate

 

[ThisLostChick]

Check that area where she likes to snuggle - you may get an egg every day or so!

She's a beauty!

Kate

Thanks Kate! I'll be sure to check that spot regularly. I'm actually getting pretty attached to her.

 

[chickenscott]

A good looking little gal. I wish I could get chickens that way. I hope you do keep her and provide her with some shelter. If you are in a rural area, she will need that. Chickens are not too picky about what they eat so table scraps are great. My girls love to see me coming in the evening with a "chicken bowl" of leftover trimmings of salad, pasta, veggies, cereal, rice & milk, bread ends etc. Good luck and let us know what you do.

 

[PattyO]

Do you think I am being sappy when I say maybe someone is missing her? Have you tried fliers at your local feed store or around the neighborhood.

 

[ThisLostChick]

Do you think I am being sappy when I say maybe someone is missing her? Have you tried fliers at your local feed store or around the neighborhood.

Not sappy at all, although I don't think there is a feed store here and the traffic on the street is too heavy for walking, so I don't think signs would be seen. ;(