What to do about a pair of wild bantams?

[Sleigh]

I live in a large suburb of Seattle, Washington. Several times a week, the husband and I drive on a busy road past a large greenspace with a soccer field and a skate park. Last fall. we saw a few chickens wandering around in the grass. We figured it was a fluke, but then we continued seeing them for the next several weeks. During winter, we did not see them, assumed that they had been captured, rehomed, or dispatched by predators.

Then, last week, I spotted one of them. We saw "it" a few more times. It is small, a bit larger than a crow. Being worried for its safety and loneliness (yes, I am one of those), the husband and I decided to try to catch it last night after dark. No luck, couldn't find her. We did find a small clutch of smashed eggs though (perhaps hers).

Anyway, I went back this morning at sunrise. She was with a friend (which made me feel a little better), another small bird with different coloring. I went home, grabbed some meal worms and the husband to make another attempt to catch them.

The friend chicken approached me, ate the meal worms I had thrown on the ground to her, but would not let me get more the 3 feet from her. The other ran when we approached. They both flew up into the branches of a pine tree well over my head.

To be clear, there are no houses in the area, lots of apartments, a museum, and some parks. So they are not someone's birds unless they are far from home. I have also checked craigslist for lost bird postings.

So, my questions is a bit of an ethical one, should these birds be "allowed" to continue to live like this - at risk of predators and cars, without proper feed? We have the room for them, a good vet, and understand proper quarantine protocol for hens as we previously took in a stray barred rock. I am happy to welcome them. Just curious about what others think.

Thanks!

 

[azygous]

If you have a flock, you risk importing an avian virus that could infect your chickens. Others have altruistically adopted stray chickens only to be rewarded with an avian virus. Quarantine doesn't help screen out avian viruses since the birds can carry it and not show symptoms.

If you feel you must do something, you can catch the chickens and take them to an animal shelter where they might be adopted by someone who would be willing to take this risk. But if you decide to adopt the chickens, just be aware of this risk. This is how I came to have lymphoid leucosis in my flock. It causes cancer tumors. Other avian viruses include Marek's and a slew of respiratory viruses, which includes a corona virus similar to Covid that does evil things to the birds internal organs.

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

I live in a large suburb of Seattle, Washington. Several times a week, the husband and I drive on a busy road past a large greenspace with a soccer field and a skate park. Last fall. we saw a few chickens wandering around in the grass. We figured it was a fluke, but then we continued seeing them for the next several weeks. During winter, we did not see them, assumed that they had been captured, rehomed, or dispatched by predators.

Then, last week, I spotted one of them. We saw "it" a few more times. It is small, a bit larger than a crow. Being worried for its safety and loneliness (yes, I am one of those), the husband and I decided to try to catch it last night after dark. No luck, couldn't find her. We did find a small clutch of smashed eggs though (perhaps hers).

Anyway, I went back this morning at sunrise. She was with a friend (which made me feel a little better), another small bird with different coloring. I went home, grabbed some meal worms and the husband to make another attempt to catch them.

The friend chicken approached me, ate the meal worms I had thrown on the ground to her, but would not let me get more the 3 feet from her. The other ran when we approached. They both flew up into the branches of a pine tree well over my head.

To be clear, there are no houses in the area, lots of apartments, a museum, and some parks. So they are not someone's birds unless they are far from home. I have also checked craigslist for lost bird postings.

So, my questions is a bit of an ethical one, should these birds be "allowed" to continue to live like this - at risk of predators and cars, without proper feed? We have the room for them, a good vet, and understand proper quarantine protocol for hens as we previously took in a stray barred rock. I am happy to welcome them. Just curious about what others think.

Thanks!

Hi! I live east of seattle closer to carnation. Are you sure they aren't pheasants. Is this at a park around here?

Here are two pictures of a rooster and hen (not my pictures I found them online):

 

[Sleigh]

If you have a flock, you risk importing an avian virus that could infect your chickens. Others have altruistically adopted stray chickens only to be rewarded with an avian virus. Quarantine doesn't help screen out avian viruses since the birds can carry it and not show symptoms.

If you feel you must do something, you can catch the chickens and take them to an animal shelter where they might be adopted by someone who would be willing to take this risk. But if you decide to adopt the chickens, just be aware of this risk. This is how I came to have lymphoid leucosis in my flock. It causes cancer tumors. Other avian viruses include Marek's and a slew of respiratory viruses, which includes a corona virus similar to Covid that does evil things to the birds internal organs.

Thank you for this information; this is very helpful. I was unaware of LL. I am sorry that you experienced the disease with your flock. I would be terribly upset if that happened.

The local rescue agencies have expressed disinterest in accepting chickens (this is how we ended up with the stray barred rock).

 

[Sleigh]

If you have a flock, you risk importing an avian virus that could infect your chickens. Others have altruistically adopted stray chickens only to be rewarded with an avian virus. Quarantine doesn't help screen out avian viruses since the birds can carry it and not show symptoms.

If you feel you must do something, you can catch the chickens and take them to an animal shelter where they might be adopted by someone who would be willing to take this risk. But if you decide to adopt the chickens, just be aware of this risk. This is how I came to have lymphoid leucosis in my flock. It causes cancer tumors. Other avian viruses include Marek's and a slew of respiratory viruses, which includes a corona virus similar to Covid that does evil things to the birds internal organs.

Thank you for this information. I was unaware of LL. The local rescue agencies have expressed disinterest in accepting chickens (this is how we ended up with the stray barred rock).

I am sorry

Hi! I live east of seattle closer to carnation. Are you sure they aren't pheasants. Is this at a park around here?

Here are two pictures of a rooster and hen (not my pictures I found them online):

Oh, it would be nice is they were. I grew up around pheasants so I know these aren't.

Not a great photo but this is the best photo I got of them, straight up tail feathers.

Thank you though!

 

[Peas4Ducks]

This isn’t going to be super helpful in helping you make a decision, but interestingly I just encountered a similar situation—we found a lone bantam rooster in a nearby park. We were able to catch him using mealworms and a box. We were quarantining him, but I didn’t realize how separate a proper quarantine needs to be until too late—he escaped his area and joined the flock about two days in. That was a week ago, so fingers crossed that everyone turns out okay—I know we’ll be super lucky if they do.

He certainly is cute and seems very happy to be with other chickens, though.

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

Thank you for this information. I was unaware of LL. The local rescue agencies have expressed disinterest in accepting chickens (this is how we ended up with the stray barred rock).

I am sorry

Oh, it would be nice is they were. I grew up around pheasants so I know these aren't.

Not a great photo but this is the best photo I got of them, straight up tail feathers.

Thank you though!

Oh okay then, yeah that is strange. Honestly though I they will probably be just fine on their own. The biggest problem would be them breeding and creating a wild population of chickens here! I know its happened in some areas in California and at least of the Hawaiian islands.

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

This isn’t going to be super helpful in helping you make a decision, but interestingly I just encountered a similar situation—we found a lone bantam rooster in a nearby park. We were able to catch him using mealworms and a box. We were quarantining him, but I didn’t realize how separate a proper quarantine needs to be until too late—he escaped his area and joined the flock about two days in. That was a week ago, so fingers crossed that everyone turns out okay—I know we’ll be super lucky if they do.

He certainly is cute and seems very happy to be with other chickens, though.

Hes a funny looking dude! I love bantam roosters

Good luck with him!

 

[azygous]

He doesn't appear to realize how much of a shrimp he is.

 

[Peas4Ducks]

All he knows is that he’s the biggest rooster in the flock