Stray chicken. What do I do?, and it’s been SO hot.

[21hens-incharge]

This thread and that picture have just been too much. There is an Amish egg barn near us that sells off "scrap" chickens each fall for 25 cents (white egg layer) or 50 cents (brown egg layer) each.
Yeah, seriously. 25 or 50 cents.
I'm going call and get some this year.
I mean WTH. How people can look at a picture of a factory bird vs a backyard bird and be ok with it, I have no idea.
I'm no vegan, I'm no vegetarian, but this is something I can help with.

You will need to brace yourself for worst case scenario.
Read up on quarantine, wound care, how to add protein to their diets, and have a secure structure set up ahead of time.

It takes a long while to get them healthy enough to even try to integrate them with an existing flock.

 

[HeatherMo]

The timing isn’t ideal. I’m leaving on a one week work trip tomorrow morning. I’m depending on my kids to take care of not only my 6 hens and 2 ducks, but also this poor girl. It’s not easy placing a bird like this! I’m feeling pretty stressed about it with all the things that could go wrong!

 

[HeatherMo]

This thread and that picture have just been too much. There is an Amish egg barn near us that sells off "scrap" chickens each fall for 25 cents (white egg layer) or 50 cents (brown egg layer) each.
Yeah, seriously. 25 or 50 cents.
I'm going call and get some this year.
I mean WTH. How people can look at a picture of a factory bird vs a backyard bird and be ok with it, I have no idea.
I'm no vegan, I'm no vegetarian, but this is something I can help with.

I wish you lived closer!

 

[21hens-incharge]

The timing isn’t ideal. I’m leaving on a one week work trip tomorrow morning. I’m depending on my kids to take care of not only my 6 hens and 2 ducks, but also this poor girl. It’s not easy placing a bird like this! I’m feeling pretty stressed about it with all the things that could go wrong!

If you decide to try and contain her the best time to grab her is after dark when she will be sleeping.

Is there a way she can stay in a shed, or the shop, maybe in a really big dog crate?

 

[HeatherMo]

If you decide to try and contain her the best time to grab her is after dark when she will be sleeping.

Is there a way she can stay in a shed, or the shop, maybe in a really big dog crate?

My husband doesn’t share my love for the chickens. He tolerates it and even though he kinda rolls his eyes at me I know he feels sorry for that chicken too. However he doesn’t help me with them and I can’t rely on him doing a lot while I’m gone, and he certainly isn't going to let her live in his shop. It’s my seven year old that loves the birds as much as I do, however I think Anne kinda spooks him in her current state. I had a makeshift enclosure for her but it isn’t predator proof. I have a lot of anxiety about the upcoming week!

 

[Morrigan]

If you have or can borrow a large dog crate, that would be a good place to keep her, while you are gone. She will be safe, and it will be easy for you son and husband to care for her there while you are gone.

 

[Morrigan]

Just adding . . .

If you can't find a predator-proof place to keep her for a week, I would just have hubby or your son continue to put food and water for her in your yard while you are gone and hope for the best. Putting her in an enclosure where predators can get to her, but she can't escape and hide, is probably worse than no enclosure at all. Hopefully Helen Keller has melted your husband's heart enough that he might let her stay in a sectioned off area of the shop if it is predator proof. Poor girl. I wish I lived closer and could help.

 

[hkirchn]

I would try to rescue it, it's likely just scared and exhausted. If you can catch it and still don't want to keep it, let me know I live in MO also, I might come get it from you.

 

[HeatherMo]

I would try to rescue it, it's likely just scared and exhausted. If you can catch it and still don't want to keep it, let me know I live in MO also, I might come get it from you.

Mi or Mo? I tried to put something around her but she got out again. I’m just going to let her run free in the yard and leave food and water. I don’t know what else to do. If you are near hamilton mi and would like her, please come get her!

 

[hkirchn]

Sorry I misunderstood, I thought you were in Missouri not Michigan; surely someone will come rescue it...……