Yesterday we starting working on a run for our chicks who have been living in their run-less coop for the past few weeks. We cut out a pop door and covered it with a board from the inside since we're doing construction with the chicks living in the building and didn't want them to get out. We didn't quite finish the run and had to go meet some friends for dinner. It crossed my mind that we really should secure the board before dark so that predators couldn't get in, but I figured we could do it when we got home. We were out later than we thought and ended up coming home after dark. When my DH went out to secure the board, he discovered it knocked down and the coop open to the outside.
After a quick headcount I'm down two chicks. One is about 6 weeks old and the other is closer to 11 weeks. There's no sign of a scuffle at all in the coop, no feathers, no blood. None of the 24 chicks left in the coop have any harm at all. The pop door is abut 4.5 feet off the ground on the outside of the barn (I haven't built a ramp yet). So I'm thinking that two of the gutsier ones flew out of the coop and then couldn't get back in?
I looked for them last night after dark and their was no sign of them. I looked again today and still no sign. How far will little chicks like that wander away from the coop door? My cats were also outside last night but if they had caught a chick they would have brought it back to the house to show me. But they could have given the chicks a fright.
I have really long grass around my house and a thicket of small brush and trees in the back. I'm feeling like it's hopeless for me to be able to find them if they're hunkered down in the grass or trees somewhere.
I guess my question is, if the chicks are ok, will they come out of hiding and start foraging in the shorter grass where I can see them? I don't want to put out food to attract them because I'm worried about the other animals food will attract. The chicks won't respond to my voice (it's more likely that they'll run away from me).
Is there any hope for these two? Any advice on how to find them? I feel awful about the whole thing. I'm new to chickens and was so proud of myself for no losses so far. And it almost makes me feel worse that they might be out there alive and scared.
Thanks for your help.
After a quick headcount I'm down two chicks. One is about 6 weeks old and the other is closer to 11 weeks. There's no sign of a scuffle at all in the coop, no feathers, no blood. None of the 24 chicks left in the coop have any harm at all. The pop door is abut 4.5 feet off the ground on the outside of the barn (I haven't built a ramp yet). So I'm thinking that two of the gutsier ones flew out of the coop and then couldn't get back in?
I looked for them last night after dark and their was no sign of them. I looked again today and still no sign. How far will little chicks like that wander away from the coop door? My cats were also outside last night but if they had caught a chick they would have brought it back to the house to show me. But they could have given the chicks a fright.
I have really long grass around my house and a thicket of small brush and trees in the back. I'm feeling like it's hopeless for me to be able to find them if they're hunkered down in the grass or trees somewhere.
I guess my question is, if the chicks are ok, will they come out of hiding and start foraging in the shorter grass where I can see them? I don't want to put out food to attract them because I'm worried about the other animals food will attract. The chicks won't respond to my voice (it's more likely that they'll run away from me).
Is there any hope for these two? Any advice on how to find them? I feel awful about the whole thing. I'm new to chickens and was so proud of myself for no losses so far. And it almost makes me feel worse that they might be out there alive and scared.
Thanks for your help.
