Help, where did my chickens go?

[Fields Mountain Farm]

I have a lot of brush and trees around... they could be hiding, but I just don't understand why they wouldn't be in their nice warm coop under the heat light huddled up.

If they were spooked, it may take a couple of days for them to relax and come back. Im still betting they'll show in the morning. But don't worry too much, chickens can endure way more than we think. Hang in there and try to be patient. If they don't show, folks here will keep picking their brains for ways to find or lure them out.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I'm sorry you're missing your chickens.

To clarify, this happened at night. You don't lock them inside their coop, and they free range and don't have a secured run, is that right?

If they weren't near the coop when the snow started falling, I can see them finding somewhere to hide until they feel safe to return to the coop. But to be gone all day today is concerning, especially with little to no food available to them.

Also, a predator could have taken them during the night, leaving no trace from what I keep reading in the forums. But with snow wouldn't you have seen tracks near the coop?

The injured hen perhaps sleeps in a nesting box and doesn't roost. That could explain why she wasn't grabbed; she wasn't where the others were when they were taken.

Please keep us updated. I feel terrible for you and your flock.

 

[Chickenman613]

I'm sorry you're missing your chickens.

To clarify, this happened at night. You don't lock them inside their coop, and they free range and don't have a secured run, is that right?

If they weren't near the coop when the snow started falling, I can see them finding somewhere to hide until they feel safe to return to the coop. But to be gone all day today is concerning, especially with little to no food available to them.

Also, a predator could have taken them during the night, leaving no trace from what I keep reading in the forums. But with snow wouldn't you have seen tracks near the coop?

The injured hen perhaps sleeps in a nesting box and doesn't roost. That could explain why she wasn't grabbed; she wasn't where the others were when they were taken.

Please keep us updated. I feel terrible for you and your flock.

They are free to come and go as they please all the time.

 

[Sassysouth]

I think they are still around. They are smart about somethings and dumb about others. You many need to rally your friends to help look.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Go easy if you go out searching in the woods. If they are spooked, when they hear an unfamiliar noise, they're likely to hunker down and stay quiet. If you or a dog scare them, they'll scatter and you may not be able to find em and encourage them back.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Go easy if you go out searching in the woods. If they are spooked, when they hear an unfamiliar noise, they're likely to hunker down and stay quiet. If you or a dog scare them, they'll scatter and you may not be able to find em and encourage them back.

Also, when you do go out, walk and talk as you normally would around them. They know you and are comfortable with you and may come out of hiding. Have some food ready for them if they do. Just sprinkle a little and see if they'll follow for more.

 

[bobbi-j]

If they're not in a secure coop at night, they could have gotten taken out of the coop by predators. If they got caught in the storm, they may have been buried in the snow (we've had wild pheasant populations decimated by large amounts of blowing snow). They may have found shelter in the bushes, but I wouldn't have much hope after a couple of days. Being out in the open at night leaves them vulnerable to predation. I hope that I am wrong, and they come home soon.