About a year ago I was adopted by a wild, half-blind, partially-crippled, runt of a nacked-neck Roo, I've named Rosco. He spends sun up to sun down in my yard, now eats out of my hand, and follows me around the garden like I'm his mama.
So 2 1/2 weeks ago I inherited one very large chicken and one even larger roo of unknown breed. Have named them Fred & Ethel (as in, Mertz).
I kept them in an enclosure, which they could have flown out of for the first week. On day five Ethel began her once a day egg laying, so I figured she was getting acclimated to her new home. Day seven she flys out, but stays near Fred so I take down the fencing and they calmly hang out near their new home. Fred makes no notice of Rosco, however when he wanders within 15 feet of Rosco, Rosco clucks and screeches loudly until I come to him. After 2 days all settles again and both roos are happily pecking around the yard with 5 feet of each other. Meantime, Ethel has stopped laying eggs in the coop, whch I have been taking, and laying in an unprotected nest she made in the yard. I took those eggs too, thinking I am too new at this to let her hatch them.
So, now the problem. Yesterday at 5pm I went out to check on them and all three are still happily pecking around the yard. I checked Ethels yard nest and found one egg, which I took. At 6pm I went back outside to feed Fred & Ethel and herd them into the coop and Ethel is no where to be found. The only predator they could possibly have would be a dog, however I've never seen a loose dog around here. I never heard any ruckus, haven't seen any blood or stray feathers. Have searched everywhere and can't find hide nor tail feather. I've even searched in the forest, but it's so thick in there that the wild boar can hide so I think it would be easy for me to miss her.
Since I've had her, she has always stayed with Fred and never left the yard. Could she have just gotten lost? Or is she hiding and protecting her eggs, not even coming out for food? Is the brooding instinct so strong that I freaked her out by taking all her eggs?
I'm very worried about her so any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Mahalo
So 2 1/2 weeks ago I inherited one very large chicken and one even larger roo of unknown breed. Have named them Fred & Ethel (as in, Mertz).
I kept them in an enclosure, which they could have flown out of for the first week. On day five Ethel began her once a day egg laying, so I figured she was getting acclimated to her new home. Day seven she flys out, but stays near Fred so I take down the fencing and they calmly hang out near their new home. Fred makes no notice of Rosco, however when he wanders within 15 feet of Rosco, Rosco clucks and screeches loudly until I come to him. After 2 days all settles again and both roos are happily pecking around the yard with 5 feet of each other. Meantime, Ethel has stopped laying eggs in the coop, whch I have been taking, and laying in an unprotected nest she made in the yard. I took those eggs too, thinking I am too new at this to let her hatch them.
So, now the problem. Yesterday at 5pm I went out to check on them and all three are still happily pecking around the yard. I checked Ethels yard nest and found one egg, which I took. At 6pm I went back outside to feed Fred & Ethel and herd them into the coop and Ethel is no where to be found. The only predator they could possibly have would be a dog, however I've never seen a loose dog around here. I never heard any ruckus, haven't seen any blood or stray feathers. Have searched everywhere and can't find hide nor tail feather. I've even searched in the forest, but it's so thick in there that the wild boar can hide so I think it would be easy for me to miss her.
Since I've had her, she has always stayed with Fred and never left the yard. Could she have just gotten lost? Or is she hiding and protecting her eggs, not even coming out for food? Is the brooding instinct so strong that I freaked her out by taking all her eggs?
I'm very worried about her so any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Mahalo
