Run away chickens

[WmMike]

Hi

I just picked up 1 rooster and three hens last night. Went out this morning to feed and three of them promptly flew over their 6 ft fence into a brier patch. Any suggestions on how to capture them?

Thanks
Mike

 

[chicmom]

How about bribing them with food. Chickens go crazy for cracked corn, or even bird seed. Maybe open up your chicken run, and sprinkle the food around, calling them as you do it, so they see it.

If they're super shy, and the food doesn't work, another way would be a net, like a fishing net with a long handle, or, as a last resort, keep an eye on them, and when it gets dark, you can simply pick them up. They get really docile at night.

 

[chicmom]

Oh, one more thing, if they're flying over a six foot fence, you could put some poultry netting on top, or clip one wing on each bird, which throws them off balance so they can't fly so high.

And it's a real good idea to keep them locked in the coop and run for about a week, maybe even two weeks, so they become accustomed to their new surroundings. Then they should stick around home for you. Otherwise, they may wander off for good.

Sharon