I ran as fast as I could and shut the door, and then did a head count of the remaining youngsters. Only Spike had escaped.
Spike didn't want to come and eat corn from my hand, thank you very much. Nor did he want to be caught. He was having far too much fun being on the outside, and shouting for his pals to come and see what he was doing.
Now, I know from experience, that there is no point in running after a Leghorn. They are speedier than Speedy Gonzales, run faster than Roadrunner, and are slipperier than a snake. So, I walked behind Spike as he circumnavigated the Allotment.
Fortunately, he followed the fencing, rather than making a break for the expanse of other allotments.
We eventually got back to the door, which of course I'd shut, and he stopped. He couldn't get in, so he started his circumnavigation again...except this time, he was on the inside of the electric fence. I did the fencing up, do he wouldn't be able to get out - worst case would be we sent the day going round the fencing together until someone came who could walk the opposite direction for me.
I then managed to get past him, and made him turn round.... back past the door.
I then opened the door so that it blocked that route, ran past him, turned him back, and he happily hopped back on to the plot. What a relief!
He was rewarded with a big peck on the head from one of the smaller females.
My own fault for letting them out on to the grass outside through the door the other day. I normally make them go through the shed, or carry them out, but I had been short of time.... and I had reasoned that the Boys would be in their own Cockerel Corral within a day or two, so wouldn't be able to get to the door anyway.
The door had got caught on the electric fencing, and I hadn't checked it was closed. Obviously I will be checking carefully from now on.
