The Poultry Keeper

Belladonna · Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Posts: 140 Location: Swansea

I have a fugitive on the loose. She hasnt had her wings clipped and i have spent an hour trying to catch her with no success. our garden is a wilderness so its like trying to catch a chook in a forest. help!!!! i dont want her to be got by foxes or next door's bloodthirsty terrier! Shocked

mojo · Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2006 11:45 am Post subject:

lay a corn trail (after shuting others in) to a catchable place

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Yes, food is always very high on the chicken's agenda.
Let us know how you get on

madslg · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 298 Location: Farnham

any joy yet?

stamina · Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 10:31 am Post subject:

Just make a funnel in the side of the run,the same as those that Jan made in her duck catcher. I'm sure your bird would rather be in than out, especially when it gets dusk. You will usually see them pacing up and down outside the wire trying to get in.
One refinement you can make--- get a piece of wire netting and support it on a couple of canes, put it at right angles to the wide end of the funnel and obviously in the middle. It will divert the birds in the right direction. Leave the funnel in permanently and when not catching you can block it off with your spare bit of wire
Less stress on the birds and on you. Wink

Hope this is helpful
Stamina

(there's no fool like an old fool) Very Happy

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I used to use a couple of my smaller run panels. They were 3' x 3', two of them hinged together ~ that made a nice herding thing and then used one of the larger panels ~ 6' one to sort of angle them in the direction of their door.
I hope you got her in OK, Belladonna

stamina · Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 10:37 am Post subject:

One other thought springs to mind.
I have a landing net (as used by fishermen).
Makes catching easier and the birds don't 'arf get a surprised look on their face when I extend my arms by 6ft.
Stamina Laughing

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I can imagine ~ just remember not to run into an enclosed space with your arms still 6' long!!!

CP · Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 10:43 am Post subject:

I hope you managed to catch her Belladonna. If not, I'm sure the tips from Stamina & summayah may help you. Wink

Fenn · Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 2292 Location: Shrewsbury

Did you manage to get her back?

Nursie · Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 162

When some of mine escaped after I left the gate open (doh!) I caught them all except one, who was having none of it.

I got so fed up, I took my coat off and ran at her then threw my coat over her - worked a treat!! thumbleft

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

And all the other girls were jealous as she had a new coat ! Very Happy

Nursie · Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 162

And very fetching she looked too!!! glasses7

Belladonna · Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Posts: 140 Location: Swansea

yes, she was out all day but i had to pop out at 4-ish and when i got home - she was in the run! a v kind neighbour had found her in their garden and returned her. Smile

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

...and just how did she catch her, or was your girl puffed out by then?