calling all hen keepers

Re: calling all hen keepers

Saskia Quinn — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:27:27 GMT

So glad to hear she came home Albatross

I read your post lastnight, though I couldnt offer any advice, but I was thinking about her

Re: calling all hen keepers

loopylou711 — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:08:15 GMT

She seems like a fun hen least she came home :D must of been hungry and knew you feed her!! Still her next adventure.... lol!

Re: calling all hen keepers

albatross — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:54:02 GMT

thanks for your help Caro.

The wanderer has returned. This morning she was strutting round the young chicks pen, and when we rattled the food pot she came over and pecked at some on the ground, then followed a trail back to her own pen.

Whew, panic over.

Re: calling all hen keepers

Caro Laithwaite VN — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:28:26 GMT

Well she may roam but seems to come back and be pretty secure in herself, l would go with the flow and see what happens. She sounds a character

Re: calling all hen keepers

albatross — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:13:13 GMT

we rescued her and 6 three day old chicks about 8 weeks ago.
She was separated from her babies a couple of weeks ago when she attacked one (which had to be pts due to the head trauma). She has been on her own since in a big pen with nesting area, and started laying eggs almost straight away).
We intended to find out the sexes of the other five then when they are a bit bigger put her with the girls, and find other homes for any boys.
We don't intend them to be free range really due to the fact they're living in the allottment and would eat all the veggies. The current problem was keeping her netted in as the original pen was temporary due to the sudden rescue.
She had learnt to put herself to bed in her nest area within the pen, as have the babies, but can't be totally free range unless we have no produce for them to feed on.
All the other 5 are her babies and although tamer than her, they would fly too I expect.
As she's the other side of the fence, we need her to jump/fly back over to our side somehow as we have no method of going to get her, nor of her walking straight back. She has to understand that we've been providing her with food, and to want to come back. As she was a regular escapee from her previous owner (and always ended up with babies in tow) she may try to return there, to find her mate (several hundred yards away and in the opposite direction to where she's ended up). We rescued her due to her roaming nature and to the owner not wanting her back, and neglecting all the others as well.

Re: calling all hen keepers

Sal the 1st — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 22:18:59 GMT

do you have any other hens? ie any other really steady hens that will come back if so try taking some of your other hens for a 'walk' in the general area and they will probably find her and then it will be a case of catching her up!

For tonight guess she will have to take her chance - its too late to get her now unless she is roosting in a tree and you can 'drop' her with a torch. But dont be too down hearted my red hen used to regularly dissapear for a couple of weeks plus and then come home with a bakers dozen in tow and we were in serious fox country.

How long you had her now? Do you intend to let her free range eventually? not as easy as ducks to call in at night but once you get a routine they sort of put themselves to bed and all you have to do is lock the door.

Good luck getting her in