Chick vanished?!

[CityGirlintheCountry]

So I put everyone to bed last night and locked up the coop. I KNOW I put this chick in the coop. Four of them haven't figured out how to use the ramp and they were huddled in a pile by it. Mama was inside with the other two. I personally put this chick in the coop and watched her tuck up under mama. This morning when I opened the coop, five chicks came out. I cannot find the 6th anywhere. ???????

I have looked everywhere in the coop (it's only 4x4). I have raked through the shavings. I've picked mama up and looked under her wings and between her legs thinking maybe it got stuck. I can't find it anywhere? Where could it have gone?

If it helps, this baby wasn't thriving. It was half the size of the others. They hatched last Thursday and while it appeared to be eating and drinking, it wasn't near as active as the others. It makes sense that it might have died, but where is the body???

 

[Chicks_N_Horses]

So sorry ~

Possibly a snake came in and got it? Or it slipped out a crack or hole?

I did have one disappear like that once. I thought I had really looked through all the litter and all but the next day I found it in the coop........

hope you find out...

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

There are no holes that it could have gotten to. The top of the door has chickenwire on it, so I guess a snake could have gotten in. I would have thought it would have eaten more than just the one tiny one.

I guess I should go sift through the litter again. It's the weirdest thing...

 

[Southernbelle]

I'm sorry to hear that, Anne!

I've had disappearing chicks before - a couple times a weak chick just died and I couldn't find the little body in the shavings. I know I've had a snake visit before. I finally caught him when he squeezed in a rabbit cage to gobble up my quail and couldn't get out after eating so much

On a happier note, the babies I hatched from your eggs are doing great! Eating and drinking well - like little pigs actually

I can't wait to see if that little black one has Silkie feathers or not.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Okay, so I went back out for an egg check and the dead baby was laying in the run where I had looked before? HUH?
I'm thinking maybe it was up in mama's feathers and got fluffed out maybe. I have no idea really. It's very odd.

I had been watching that one for the last couple of days trying to decide if it needed to come in the house. I hate to seperate them from mama and siblings unless there is no other choice. This one just never was all that hardy. The other barred is doing fine. Beats me.

Southernbelle- so glad the babies are doing well. Those mutt babies are little pig chickens. Greedy, greedy little things!

I'm going to be really surprised if the little black grows in silkie feathers. The one I thought might be a boy silkie squats for me all the time now and I've had some mystery little eggs in the coop and run over the last week. I'm gonna go with Spot being the other mature roo in that coop so it shouldn't be able to have the recessive silkie feathers. According to the chicken calculator though the mottled ones are impossible and they should all come out of that mix being blue or black with normal feathers. Hmmm. Beats me. I get really vague on chicken genetics. It is why little mutts are so much fun!
I do want to see pics of your Chicken Freak Show at some point. I can't wait to see all the fun mixes you got.