Well, after counting the rest of my flock as gone for good after the pens were opened by the ATV morons on Sept. 3rd, I recovered 7 of my hens today.
There is a gentleman that lives on the other side of our land, through thick woods. He walks the big circle of our roads every day. I used see him once in a great while, but now that I'm down at the end of our lane every morning to get my girl on the bus, I see him a couple times a week.
As he was walking by this morning, he did the usual head nod and wave, and kept walking, then stopped and came back and asked if I happened to be missing any chickens. I was elated!! According to him, about a half dozen hens came out of his woods yesterday, and he couldn't get rid of them. I guess they got at his bird feeders and emptied them, LOL. His wife kept feeding them oats, and he said at the rate she was going, he'd never get rid of them. I thanked him, and told him I'd gladly come over and collect my stray hens.
After I got my girl on the bus, I went back up and got the car, scratch feed and dog crate, drove over, and sure enough, there are 7 of my girls, looking very rough, clucking away, eating the birdseed left on the ground.
I called them and they all came running. They were easy to catch once I threw the scratch grains down.
So, after almost 9 days missing, and after trekking through probably 2 1/2 miles of heavy woods, they came out alive and hungry on the other side!!
His wife was sad to see them go. I see chickens in their future, LOL. I told her we are always hatching out chicks in the warm season and told her I'd gladly give them a dozen or so chicks if they ever wanted them, and told her to stop by and get a dozen eggs for free next time she's needing them. They're nice folks.
Also got a decent amount of information on who the ATV kids are, so I'll be sending that handy bit of information to the Trooper who is in charge of our case.
When we got home, I opened the door and then opened the crate, and they all jumped out and high-tailed it up to the coop.
So, finally a change in luck (*knock on wood*). I'm happy to get at least some of my hens back
Em
There is a gentleman that lives on the other side of our land, through thick woods. He walks the big circle of our roads every day. I used see him once in a great while, but now that I'm down at the end of our lane every morning to get my girl on the bus, I see him a couple times a week.
As he was walking by this morning, he did the usual head nod and wave, and kept walking, then stopped and came back and asked if I happened to be missing any chickens. I was elated!! According to him, about a half dozen hens came out of his woods yesterday, and he couldn't get rid of them. I guess they got at his bird feeders and emptied them, LOL. His wife kept feeding them oats, and he said at the rate she was going, he'd never get rid of them. I thanked him, and told him I'd gladly come over and collect my stray hens.
After I got my girl on the bus, I went back up and got the car, scratch feed and dog crate, drove over, and sure enough, there are 7 of my girls, looking very rough, clucking away, eating the birdseed left on the ground.
I called them and they all came running. They were easy to catch once I threw the scratch grains down.
So, after almost 9 days missing, and after trekking through probably 2 1/2 miles of heavy woods, they came out alive and hungry on the other side!!
His wife was sad to see them go. I see chickens in their future, LOL. I told her we are always hatching out chicks in the warm season and told her I'd gladly give them a dozen or so chicks if they ever wanted them, and told her to stop by and get a dozen eggs for free next time she's needing them. They're nice folks.
Also got a decent amount of information on who the ATV kids are, so I'll be sending that handy bit of information to the Trooper who is in charge of our case.
When we got home, I opened the door and then opened the crate, and they all jumped out and high-tailed it up to the coop.
So, finally a change in luck (*knock on wood*). I'm happy to get at least some of my hens back
Em
