My 4 chickens (a RIR, an EE, a GC & a B Rock) have a coop attached to a run (that is not covered). They have been in this for almost a month without an issue. Since my life has slowed down & I am home more, I have decided to allow them to free range. By 7pm they put themselves back in the run so I close the run with the plans to come out about an hour later after they have put themselves to bed.
Tues. night I went out & all but my RIR (who was frantically pacing the run) were outside of the run. I noticed an area that I thought they might have wiggled out of so I closed it up & made sure all was snug for the next day.
Wed. night, I was not going to be home until late so I placed them in the run at 6pm & left for the evening (leaving DH home with them). I got home at 11:30pm, walked in the door & asked my DH if he had closed the coop, his answer... no!! So I went out to close them up. I don't know what made me look but I did, I stuck in my head & only counted 2 chicks looking back at me!!! Both the GC & BR were gone!!!! I checked the roosts & the run (triple checked to make sure!!!) than started combing the backyard. Thankfully they have a favorite part of the yard & that was were I headed-quickly finding my GC who bolted as soons as I headed toward her (even thought I didn't see her!!) After 30mins of looking everywhere I could for my BR, I was ready to give up.
I was so upset, figuring since the 2 weren't together that something must have gotten ahold of the BR. I hit at a bush in frustration ( a bush in their favorite place!!!) & heard feathers flap. I shook the bush again... nothing. Thought maybe it was just a wild bird I had startled & it had flown off. I was about to head into the house when my cat climbed the bush & started stalking a branch. After shining the flashlight over the branch 3 times (the military has nothing on camouflage compared to chickens!!!) I finally saw my BR roosting on the branch. Thankfully she was on a branch I was able to reach but now my question is... will this always be a problem now... even if I don't let them free range anymore? In a couple (hopefully) of months it won't be too much of an issue any more since they will be getting moved to a new run that will be taller & covered.
Tues. night I went out & all but my RIR (who was frantically pacing the run) were outside of the run. I noticed an area that I thought they might have wiggled out of so I closed it up & made sure all was snug for the next day.
Wed. night, I was not going to be home until late so I placed them in the run at 6pm & left for the evening (leaving DH home with them). I got home at 11:30pm, walked in the door & asked my DH if he had closed the coop, his answer... no!! So I went out to close them up. I don't know what made me look but I did, I stuck in my head & only counted 2 chicks looking back at me!!! Both the GC & BR were gone!!!! I checked the roosts & the run (triple checked to make sure!!!) than started combing the backyard. Thankfully they have a favorite part of the yard & that was were I headed-quickly finding my GC who bolted as soons as I headed toward her (even thought I didn't see her!!) After 30mins of looking everywhere I could for my BR, I was ready to give up.
I was so upset, figuring since the 2 weren't together that something must have gotten ahold of the BR. I hit at a bush in frustration ( a bush in their favorite place!!!) & heard feathers flap. I shook the bush again... nothing. Thought maybe it was just a wild bird I had startled & it had flown off. I was about to head into the house when my cat climbed the bush & started stalking a branch. After shining the flashlight over the branch 3 times (the military has nothing on camouflage compared to chickens!!!) I finally saw my BR roosting on the branch. Thankfully she was on a branch I was able to reach but now my question is... will this always be a problem now... even if I don't let them free range anymore? In a couple (hopefully) of months it won't be too much of an issue any more since they will be getting moved to a new run that will be taller & covered.
