Chicken didn't come home :(

[Stuckinlove]

I have 8 free range chickens that come home at night to sleep on the coop and one of my girls (a 2-3 month old bantam polish mix) didn't come home

I am hoping that once the others are let out in the morning, she will meet up with them again. Has anyone had this experience?

 

[TexasSam]

How much space do they have to range in are there fencing? What type of predators are around is there A rooster.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Get a flashlight and go look for her. She may have gone to roost in a tree or bush near the coop. If you wait until morning, a predator may take her.

 

[Stuckinlove]

How much space do they have to range in are there fencing? What type of predators are around is there A rooster.

We have 12 acres that they are able to range on. Normally they stay near the house though. As for predators, we have snakes, bobcats, coyotes, etc. And yes to a rooster but it's only about 6 months old.

 

[Stuckinlove]

Get a flashlight and go look for her. She may have gone to roost in a tree or bush near the coop. If you wait until morning, a predator may take her.

My husband and I took flashlights and walked around and called but couldn't find her.

 

[GardenTillers44]

I agree, you should look for her tonight. We free ranged our first year and one did not come to roost one night. We looked all around and never found her. Not what you want to hear, but don't give up. Check with your neighbors, especially if any have poultry, she may have shown up there. At least they will all be alerted to look for her in the area.

 

[17 chickens]

Sad to hear, Hope you find her!

 

[CapricornFarm]

My husband and I took flashlights and walked around and called but couldn't find her.

Did you look up high as well as down low? Sometimes young birds just flake out on the ground.

 

[Leighe]

My husband and I took flashlights and walked around and called but couldn't find her.

So, yes, this has happened to me. Anytime someone doesn't make it in for the night, I go looking for them. I pretty much know the areas to look now. Mine are also free range on tons of acres but stay within about 1 acre. Here are the scenarios:
1. He will be waiting for you when you go open the coop in the morning, having come out of his hiding spot.
2. He will not be there in the morning (more then likely a predator got him before coop time tonight).
3. I try to be over at coop while it is light so if any chicken is missing, I can look quickly in the light. Not always possible but I have made it my goal.
I cannot tell you how many times I drove around, with the mule, looking for a chicken or a few chickens. Crying because I know they won't answer me. Once a chicken has roosted they will 99% of the time stay quiet where they are. I have now come to know that if a few are missing that I need to look for feathers, because more then likely a predator got them....ALTHOUGH....3 times I was missing 3-4 chickens and found them in my yard behind bushes. Someone had left the yard gate open and they had come in and then someone had shut the gate and they couldn't get back out.
I hope he's there waiting for you in the morning....

 

[Pamela Warfield]

I have 8 free range chickens that come home at night to sleep on the coop and one of my girls (a 2-3 month old bantam polish mix) didn't come home

I am hoping that once the others are let out in the morning, she will meet up with them again. Has anyone had this experience?

I'm so sorry to hear one of your girls did not come home. I hope you are able to find her.
I also free range I have 4 young girls and have clicker trained them. I go out an hour or two before dark to get them to come home. I use the clicker and meal worms.