Random Hen Showed Up On The Property!

[lena_]

The picture didn't work, before, I'll try again

 

[MissChick@dee]

Today when we got back from my sibling's dance lessons, we went inside and everything was normal. Around 20 mins later my Stepdad arrived home from work, chatted with my Mom, and then told me that he had seen a chicken down the end of our driveway...

I suspected it was a rooster that someone had dumped, so I set off with my net to take a look.As I approached the end of the driveway, I saw the chicken! It had crossed over to the other side of the road and was scratching around in the grass. After a chase that took awhile, and a bit of a miracle catch(the chicken had wedged itself under a rotten log in an attempt to hide) I finally had secured the chicken, and surprisingly it wasn't a rooster!

She's quite pretty(Pure black with silver duckwing-type hackle feathers). I asked my parents what to do with her, they said to put her in the coop (our quarantine pen is destroyed, and she seemed healthy; Clean legs, no nasal discharge, alert, no lice or mites, butt fluff a little dirty tho) I put her up on the roosts and that's where this 'story begins'.

I clipped her wings, as my parents said that should prevent her from flying off. But I have so many questions!
The first question being where has she come from? Do you think someone dumped her?
Will she stay with the flock?

I kinda need help...

You don’t want to put some random chicken with your flock. It could contaminate your healthy birds!
Ever think someone might be looking for it?
So many posts on here about how a predator ran chickens off. Or a broken fence.
If it were me. I’d ask around. Sure know I’d appreciate that if one of mine “disappeared”.
Feed and water it if you like. Don’t touch. And sanitize the bottom of your shoes before going in YOUR back yard.
Try online posts. Flyers.
Educate while you do this. People don’t realize how they can compromise healthy flocks.
Perhaps do a bit of shaming because if they did “dump” their problems onto someone else it’s just not fair!

 

[lena_]

You don’t want to put some random chicken with your flock. It could contaminate your healthy birds!
Ever think someone might be looking for it?
So many posts on here about how a predator ran chickens off. Or a broken fence.
If it were me. I’d ask around. Sure know I’d appreciate that if one of mine “disappeared”.
Feed and water it if you like. Don’t touch. And sanitize the bottom of your shoes before going in YOUR back yard.
Try online posts. Flyers.
Educate while you do this. People don’t realize how they can compromise healthy flocks.
Perhaps do a bit of shaming because if they did “dump” their problems onto someone else it’s just not fair!

Did you see the update post? The bird's owner has been found, but the hen is broody, so we'll be giving her back when she's raised her chicks(the owner doesn't really want her hen +21) Thanks for your concern though, I try to be careful about quarantine, but my parents don't really care about it. It's quite annoying when they act as though it's completely unnecessary.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Well...no I didn’t so thank you. Just goes to show ya huh? Now see if that was my hen and you helped bring her back home I’d be baking you a cheese cake or something.
If you like her why not ask to keep her. Sounds like you care more than the original owner. Go figure.
Well I’m sure if she could talk she’d say thanks for all you’ve done.
Best wishes

 

[aart]

as the neighbour doesn't particularly want twenty one more chickens

Wonders....do you want another 21 chickens?

Is she sitting out in range area unprotected?

 

[Col1948]

I posted on the other thread about this, I said Butter might not want to go home.
She's gorgeous, I would do as MissChick@dee says and ask if you can keep her.

 

[lena_]

Well...no I didn’t so thank you. Just goes to show ya huh? Now see if that was my hen and you helped bring her back home I’d be baking you a cheese cake or something.
If you like her why not ask to keep her. Sounds like you care more than the original owner. Go figure.
Well I’m sure if she could talk she’d say thanks for all you’ve done.
Best wishes

I posted on the other thread about this, I said Butter might not want to go home.
She's gorgeous, I would do as MissChick@dee says and ask if you can keep her.

I think the owner has learned after losing her two other chickens, and I feel bad for her one remaining bird. As much as I would prefer that Butter stayed with me, and lived under the watchful eye of my wonderful rooster Reggie, she doesn't belong to me, and the neighbour seemed kind of annoyed that I had 'stolen' her bird, when in reality I had taken good care of the sweet little thing, I wormed her and feed her,she also free ranges happily with the flock, sigh...

Wonders....do you want another 21 chickens?

Is she sitting out in range area unprotected?

Well, I'd say we'll keep a few pullets, and butcher or sell any cockerels. As for the other pullets, they'll sell pretty easily, they tend to around here.

Yes, she is sitting in an unprotected area, unfortunately I don't have a spare broody coop (as my only one is being occupied, by a particularly mean broody bantam) She does have tree cover. Here in New Zealand we don't have foxes, racoons, etc. The only real predators around here are the Australasian Harrier, and feral cats. I'll see if I can come up with something to move her into.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Some people

 

[lena_]

Some people

I know right... All I can really do is make sure that Butter is safe and well fed whilst in my care, it'll be sad to see her go. The neighbour now confines her chickens 24/7, but Butter loves free ranging.
Oh well, at least if she's confined she'll be safe.

 

[centrarchid]

I know right... All I can really do is make sure that Butter is safe and well fed whilst in my care, it'll be sad to see her go. The neighbour now confines her chickens 24/7, but Butter loves free ranging.
Oh well, at least if she's confined she'll be safe.

Could you put some fencing around her? I do it routinely with broodies nesting in pasture. I make so fencing gives her a radius that is at least 2 feet. The pens are opened during the day and closed at night.