Visitor for 6 days so far

[Melnurse]

Hi everyone!
I live in Covington/Maple Valley and we only have 4 chickens (2 buff Orpingtons, 1 Wyandotte, 1 Americauna (Easter Egger)). They are 5 months old at the end of this month and we're excitedly awaiting eggs soon.
For the last 6 days, we've had this visiting buff Orpington, older than my girls, quite vocal but healthy looking. She has some discolored feathers that look purple just on her chest by her right leg and up, but it looks false - as if whoever owns her had colored the feathers to distinguish her from others? Do people do that?
In any case, there is no band on her foot and the neighbors keep telling me that my chicken is out and loose and I keep telling them that it's not my chicken. I don't want to put her in with my girls because of all of the horror stories that I've heard on here about contaminating in case the chicken is carrying something I don't want my girls exposed to. Should I call animal control? She seems to be surviving no problem - I throw her some dried worms and leave a bowl of feed out for her in the front - and she comes by every day to get them. I've sat on the stoop and she's come within a foot of me, but won't come any closer. Really sketched out about being touched.
Anyhow, other than posting pictures in the neighborhood, any suggestions?


Mel

 

[Stiggy]

Well if you keep feeding her then she will keep coming back. You could always put up a flyer at your local feed store/ tractor supply store vet etc. People do dye their chickens / use nail polish to make them to tell the difference. Chickens can roam far, she might even be sleeping in a tree or bush near/ on your property. If you have predator problems then she will make them an easy meal. If you can catch her and have an extra cage/coop then you could quarentiene her and just see what happens. Chances are she is just looking for some food and mates, since chickens are flock animals and need company. Should you decide to keep her at least until you find her home then worming her, checking and dusting for lice is a must.

 

[Melnurse]

Thank you, Stiggy, I will see about posting at the feed store (which is about 10 miles away). We do have raccoons and eagles and such and I expect to suddenly not see her one day, but so far, she's been fairly good about avoiding those predators. I will stop feeding her, but oddly, she does not seem interested at all in staying close to the girls in my yard... rather reclusive.

Thanks again!
Mel