Chickens – How to Catch

Q: There is a roving flock of chickens that likes to search for food in my yard, ruining my grass from scratching and disturbing the mulch in the plant beds. Is there anything I can do to stop them from coming into my yard?

A: You can make a trap for them from 2 inch mesh chicken wire and some wooden stakes. Use the chicken wire to form a large cage 4 ft. x 4 ft. x 4 ft. Make a 1 ft. x 1 ft. opening in one side at ground level. Cut wire coat hangers into 24 – 13 inch long pieces. Make a small loop at one end that can be slipped over the chicken wire edge at the top of the opening; they should be just a bit too long to swing freely. Space the 24 stiff wires evenly across the opening such that they can be pushed in, but not out. Sprinkle corn or sunflower seed on a plank inside the trap. Wild birds will begin feeding there, which will attract your neighborhood chickens. They will be able to push their way into the trap but not able to push back out through the wire.