Wild Chicken trying to join the flock.

[Mystikal]

So a week or two ago our neighbor asked if we were missing any chickens because there were two foraging in his yard. We were not missing any.

We figured that they were free ranging and would head home after dusk. Friday night hubby goes to check the run and finds them roosting on the other side of the fence from the run.

So I posted in a group on Facebook to see if anyone was missing them. We contacted animal control and no one called looking for them either. Next night they were roosting in the same spot.

This morning one was inside the fence on it's own. When I got home from dropping my son off at school my husband told me we lost a fence chicken. He tried to catch the remaining chicken before work but was not successful. I kept an eye on it.

Someone on Facebook thought it was a young rooster. I don't know the breed or gender. I haven't heard any crowing.

For the night I have put it in a dog crate in our shed. Please advise what to look for as far as parasites/lice. I don't want to infect my flock.

Can anyone help me figure out what we have here? Thanks in advance!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Someone on Facebook thought it was a young rooster. I don't know the breed or gender.

Correct, cockerel.. it's a Wyandotte..

Blue or splash laced red.

 

[-Chanticleer-]

That is a young cockerel. Someone probably dumped the poor bird. If you look at the base of the feathers you should be able to determine if it has mites or lice. Also, I would quarantine for 30 days believe me I made the mistake of not doing so and all my chickens got sick with a nasty respiratory infection.

 

[Mystikal]

Correct, cockerel.. it's a Wyandotte..

Blue or splash laced red.

Thanks, we don't want a rooster. Guess I will try to find it a home.

 

[Mystikal]

That is a young cockerel. Someone probably dumped the poor bird. If you look at the base of the feathers you should be able to determine if it has mites or lice. Also, I would quarantine for 30 days believe me I made the mistake of not doing so and all my chickens got sick with a nasty respiratory infection.

Thanks, that's a bummer cause we don't need a rooster.

 

[nuthatched]

Thanks, that's a bummer cause we don't need a rooster.

Nonsense, everyone needs a rooster!
Joking, I hope you find him a good home.