This is my first year keeping chickens. We have very large fenced in area for our standard 10 chickens and three bantams that free range it during the day. (two hens and a rooster that have never gone more than four feet from the coop or pen) My silver phoenix bantam hen has always been a shadow to me. She sits on the deck looking in through the slider doors and comes running full force and chirping when she sees me come outside. Two months ago I noticed she was sitting on a nest of seven eggs at the base of a tree next to the coop. I picked up the eggs after she wandered off, but the next day she was running around distraught and screaming. I placed one egg back under the tree and she instantly sat on it and layed another. Afterwards she got up and went about her daily business. She's has doing this for two months now. Then yesterday I got home and she was nowhere to be found! I searched all around and about 120ft into the woods with no Penelope in sight. This morning however around 9:30 here she comes up out of nowhere looking tired and disheveled! I went in and got her some snacks and scooped her up for some cuddle time. I placed her in the coop for some water and food and I assumed she'd nap a bit. Roughly 30 minutes later however she is GONE again! I looked for her at the base of every tree within about 120ft of the coop in the woods, all around the property with no luck! I'm wondering it if is safe to assume that she has made herself a little nest and is brooding?! Does that sound like a strong possibility? If so I do not want her out in the woods with all of the predators we have here in Northern Michigan so if she pops back up and I am able to find her nest would it be safe for me to make a temporary nest in a cage with her eggs to keep her under lockdown until she hatches them? I was also wondering if anyone had any tips on finding a TINY chicken who's feathers are perfectly camouflaged for her surroundings! Any input is appreciated! Thanks!
