Well, it's been a week since one of my Golden Comet hens went missing, and I guess I just need to write about it. At first, since I found no feathers I looked in places she could have gotten trapped in, as this has happened in the past w/ missing chickens+no feathers (one was in a barrel, the other under a wooden crate).
I've looked around the perimeter of my barnyard, the birds free range, and there is very tall grass. I surmised that something could indeed have snatched her up and headed for the woods. I've gone through my fields and nothing (actually, I did find a toy lion figurine? Have no idea where that came from? But wierd!). So I've looked and looked for feathers, at least one feather and can't find any!
I'm thinking that maybe a fox or bobcat snuck in and had an easy meal. But, I don't know how far they would have gone with their kill? I have seen where a fox (I assume) got a ruffed grouse in the field, a clump of feathers, and then I kept walking to later find an entire pile of feathers. Wouldn't there be at least some feathers at a kill area?
I am now bringing my chickens in at 7 instead of letting them do their own thing until I do chores and they feel like roosting for the night (they are not happy about that!). Guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has had this sort of thing happen.
Anyway, done with my ramble.
I've looked around the perimeter of my barnyard, the birds free range, and there is very tall grass. I surmised that something could indeed have snatched her up and headed for the woods. I've gone through my fields and nothing (actually, I did find a toy lion figurine? Have no idea where that came from? But wierd!). So I've looked and looked for feathers, at least one feather and can't find any!

I'm thinking that maybe a fox or bobcat snuck in and had an easy meal. But, I don't know how far they would have gone with their kill? I have seen where a fox (I assume) got a ruffed grouse in the field, a clump of feathers, and then I kept walking to later find an entire pile of feathers. Wouldn't there be at least some feathers at a kill area?
I am now bringing my chickens in at 7 instead of letting them do their own thing until I do chores and they feel like roosting for the night (they are not happy about that!). Guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has had this sort of thing happen.
