Stray Chicken and no Coop

[Nichole504]

I live in a suburb of New Orleans and recently a family about a half mile away moved, leaving their chickens and roosters behind. The new owner of the house said the remaining few chickens that have eluded the coyotes had been living in some nearby shrubs but last week a cigarette thrown from a car burned the shrubs down. All to which I am guessing lead to this sweet little hen making my garage her new coop. She has no desire to leave and the stray cats that make camp across the street keep me from throwing her out. I can’t keep her and I am actively trying to find her and home and would like some advice on how to keep her happy and healthy until then. Just know I leave the garage completely open about 4 hours a day and the most she does is go and spread her wings where the sun meets the inner garage, careful to never cross the threshold. I’ve even picked her up (which she is fine with) and put her in the field next door and she just flys back in. I’m not keeping her trapped by any means. She is curious and stays near me when I go out to visit with her morning and night. I’ve picked up some parrot food (best of my options available at Walmart according to a thread on this site) and throw in a few pieces of apple which she gets very vocally excited about. I have a small storage container with water. (I never knew how cute it was to watch a chicken drink). I’ve made her a hen box the best I can out of a shoe box and some dead grass and leaves from the yard but she wants nothing to do with it. She just keeps roost on my fiancé’s toolbox. Any advice on if what I am doing is right or horribly wrong would be appreciated. I’m just trying to keep her happy and healthy until I find her a home.

 

[nuthatched]

Sounds like you're doing fine so far, maybe add some lettuce and greens every so often, they like those. she might not feel like nesting at the moment, so she might keep ignoring the shoebox. She also might be laying eggs somewhere else, if you her start getting vocal, you might want to check around.
she kinda has a seabright shape to her, how big is she?

 

[Mrs. K]

oh dear - you will be hooked. A chicken from the Gods so to speak. She has chosen you.
A couple of points:

• To sleep they like a high spot, a limb or 2x4, shovel handle to roost on
• They lay eggs in a nest, but her comb looks pale to me, (perfectly normal this time of year, as they take a break from laying.
• I would go to an ag store and get chicken feed, while there, you can ask for other chicken people who might take her in.
• Don't worry about keeping her warm, do keep her dry. My husband would not be real tolerant of her roosting on his tool box, as that is where they poop the most, while roosting

 

[B-Goock]

Sounds like you have a pet. Why not keep her? Its a pet that gives you eggs, eats bugs, fertilizer for a garden, and will dispose of most any waste food.

 

[Mrs. K]

enabler ^^^ post above but I am all for keeping her too!

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
We are all enablers here! A farm store will have an all-flock chicken feed at least. And a place to put up a 'for sale' sigh, with photos.
She's a lucky survivor, and deserves a home, with you, or somewhere good.
Post on the Louisiana thread too...
Mary

 

[Nichole504]

To me, she appears tiny. At least comparable to some pics I’ve seen online. When I pick her up, my two hands can almost fit around all the way around her. Here is a pic find my hand for scale. Any idea what kind she may be?

 

[Folly's place]

Maybe an Old English Game bantam? She is cute, and sweet, very nice.
Mary

 

[Nichole504]

oh dear - you will be hooked. A chicken from the Gods so to speak. She has chosen you.
A couple of points:

• To sleep they like a high spot, a limb or 2x4, shovel handle to roost on
• They lay eggs in a nest, but her comb looks pale to me, (perfectly normal this time of year, as they take a break from laying.
• I would go to an ag store and get chicken feed, while there, you can ask for other chicken people who might take her in.
• Don't worry about keeping her warm, do keep her dry. My husband would not be real tolerant of her roosting on his tool box, as that is where they poop the most, while roosting

Ha! I keep

oh dear - you will be hooked. A chicken from the Gods so to speak. She has chosen you.
A couple of points:

• To sleep they like a high spot, a limb or 2x4, shovel handle to roost on
• They lay eggs in a nest, but her comb looks pale to me, (perfectly normal this time of year, as they take a break from laying.
• I would go to an ag store and get chicken feed, while there, you can ask for other chicken people who might take her in.
• Don't worry about keeping her warm, do keep her dry. My husband would not be real tolerant of her roosting on his tool box, as that is where they poop the most, while roosting

Thanks for the tips. Ha! His tolerance is weakening daily but I lay fresh disposable Terry towel right underneath her in the tool box.

 

[Folly's place]

I just posted on the Louisiana thread for you, see what turns up.
Mary