Our hens escaped newbie owners. How do we get them to come back?

[howiedoit]

We are total newbies at this. About 5 days ago, my girlfriend received 4 hens from a friend who has a farm. I believe these hens are used to being free range.

I had built a coop in anticipation of their arrival, but the day we got them, they hopped onto our fence and flew into our neighbors' trees.

2 hang out in one tree on the street behind us and 2 hang out in our next door neighbor's tree. We've been checking on them every day and we try to coax them back with food. But since they are not familiar with us or the new neighborhood, they just flee whenever anyone tries to approach. We can't even get close to them. When they go up into the trees, they are way out of reach.

I tired setting up one of those traps for cats and raccoons but that hasn't worked at all.

We don't know what to do and I'm worried that our neighbors see them as a nuisance because we don't live in a rural area. And the chickens have been digging in their yards.

We feel like we are terrible at this. Does anyone have any advice for us? Thanks in advance.

 

[bobbi-j]

Triplicate thread

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Quote:

We are total newbies at this. About 5 days ago, my girlfriend received 4 hens from a friend who has a farm. I believe these hens are used to being free range.

I had built a coop in anticipation of their arrival, but the day we got them, they hopped onto our fence and flew into our neighbors' trees.

2 hang out in one tree on the street behind us and 2 hang out in our next door neighbor's tree. We've been checking on them every day and we try to coax them back with food. But since they are not familiar with us or the new neighborhood, they just flee whenever anyone tries to approach. We can't even get close to them. When they go up into the trees, they are way out of reach.

I tired setting up one of those traps for cats and raccoons but that hasn't worked at all.

We don't know what to do and I'm worried that our neighbors see them as a nuisance because we don't live in a rural area. And the chickens have been digging in their yards.

We feel like we are terrible at this. Does anyone have any advice for us? Thanks in advance.

Your welcome in advance.

Chickens can be captured from trees after dark by using a long stick or pole with a short crosspiece on top. Gently push up on the breast bone from below right in front of the chickens' feet. The bird will transfer its feet to the crosspiece to prevent being pushed backwards off the roost, then slowly and did I mention gently lower the stick down to arm length. Sometimes it helps to have a powerful light and sometimes total darkness will keep the chicken properly calm. Since this is your first feathered rodeo a helper or two would be a good idea.

 

[aart]

Triplicate thread

Yes...most replies are in this one:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...hens-ran-away-how-do-we-get-them-to-come-back