If you’ve spotted a chicken in an area where they don’t seem to belong, we recommend taking the following actions:
- Try your best to secure the chicken and keep them safe while you figure out a solution. Chickens are prey animals and have very few defenses against predators, and they often aren’t traffic-savvy. The most important first step is to make sure they are safe. Chickens can be tricky to catch during the day, especially if they’re scared and in an unfamiliar place. The best way to catch a chicken is to find them just before dusk, watch to see where they go to perch for the night, wait until it’s a little darker, and then attempt to catch them. We recommend having several people available to help and using nets for everyone’s safety.
- If there are homes nearby, knock on doors and ask if anyone recognizes the chicken or knows where they might belong. Chickens don’t often wander far from their homes, so if they do live nearby, it shouldn’t take long to locate their home.
- Post on local neighborhood groups on social media to try to find their home. Most neighborhoods and smaller cities have community Facebook groups. NextDoor is another great place to post in order to reach your closest neighbors.
- Search the lost animals database and file a found animal report on the animal shelter or animal control agency of the jurisdiction where the chicken was found. If someone is looking for their companion animal, they will often file a report and search the database here. If you’re in King County, Washington, you can do this on RASKC’s website. For animals found within the city of Seattle, you should contact Seattle Animal Shelter. A more comprehensive list of animal control agencies and shelters in the Seattle area can be found here.
Unfortunately, stray chickens (and stray roosters especially) are often the victims of dumping, and nobody is looking for them. If you’re unable to locate their guardian within a reasonable amount of time by following the above advice, then it may be time to find them a new home.
If you’re able to provide a temporary safe living situation while searching for an adoptive home, we recommend using our Home To Home website to list them for adoption. You can read more about the Home To Home program on our rehoming page.
If you’re unable to provide short-term housing, we may be able to help secure foster placement while we look for an adoptive home. Please understand that our sanctuary and foster homes are often at capacity, so we may not be able to take in a new resident right away. Contact us to discuss options.
As a last resort, your local animal control agency or shelter may be able to take in the stray chicken and work towards finding them an adoptive home. Please ask questions and be aware that some shelters do not adopt roosters out to the public, and may send them to farm auction or euthanize them once their stray hold is up.