Stray chicken. She's a beauty! Need opinions.

[DixieChicken78]

She almost came up to me this morning. I got back from taking my daughter to school and she was on the driveway. I got out and clucked to her and she clucked back and just walked up to me. I didn't try to grab her because I don't want her to be scared of me. Just want her to get used to me. She has white earlobes and eight tail feathers on each side. Plus those gray/olive legs... I think she's a phoenix! Going to find some treats for her. But she is comfortable coming around our yard. She even came out yesterday with my kids in the yard! So... looking promising! Yay!

 

[DixieChicken78]

I love her! She followed me all the way down the yard and to the pen. She was clucking up a storm at my babies. They seemed fine with her outside their pen. If it weren't for my big dumb dog she would have stayed longer I think.

 

[miquwid]

Wow this seems so exciting, I just want you to catch her soon.

 

[Kev]

Every time someone says they have a stray or feral hen, I think game bird. That appears to be the case here, although she seems just a little heavy bodied for a game? But I'm pretty sure that's what she is. Great foragers and mommas.

I second this. Your(yes yours) hen is a game. She does not have the feather color of most phoenix, yet she has one of the most common colors of game hens.

Games come in all colors- feather and leg so don't let one little detail trip you into thinking she's this or that breed.

If you want to look at pictures online, do search for american game hen or old english game (not bantam).

Good idea not trying to chase/catch her with hands... you simply won't be able to and this will make her distrust you. Just let her walk into a COVERED coop, run, cage.. they fly very very well.

 

[Chickenclucker]

I've seen this thread a couple of times and I am excited for you to catch her!! Keep us posted!

 

[DixieChicken78]

I was feeding her crackers from my window. She was at the bottom of our yard. I started clucking to her and she came running. Haha. I'm just patiently working on human/chicken relations.

 

[Tongiechick]

Oh my she is pretty...I would make sure to quarantine her if you do manage to get her...what a beautiful girl..

yes, watch her closely so you do not infect your flock

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I was feeding her crackers from my window. She was at the bottom of our yard. I started clucking to her and she came running. Haha. I'm just patiently working on human/chicken relations.

Ooooh she is pretty!

I would dust her for mites/lice the first chance I got though, and repeat in 7 days. This is for when you get her caught and into a pen. The owls kill anything here- she wouldn't be safe in the forest around here, even up a tree.

If I were you I'd keep her penned up for two weeks with the coop and pen where you want her to lay her eggs. That way she knows it is home. Make it comfy with a nest box and nice food/water/treats. Otherwise she will lay her eggs who knows where.

If you can entice her with treats into said coop/pen as an above poster said (definitely a good idea to quarantine as someone else said) that would work.

If you only have ONE coop and pen you can put her in a dog crate in the garage for quarantine and be her best buddy, then after that put her in a dog crate inside the coop with the others until she gets used to it. You are saving her life!

 

[ChickenChatten]

Can't wait till you catch! Not trying too be too optimistic, but have you thought of a name for her?

 

[Sparrow]

Easiest way to catch a chicken- wait until nighttime. They can hardly see at night, so perhaps see where she roosts and then snag her. I've had to do it plenty of times with my flock years ago.