Hen Ran Away, Will she do it again?

[catlover8976]

My lovely Coco ran away, how you ask?

Our chickens are not kept in a pen, they roam the garden and our garden is quite large so they don't go too far from food.

But Coco ran away. She later came back today, about 3 days later, all wet from the rain last night and screeming at the cocks.

She seems almost feral now, screeming, puffing up her neack feathers and faning her wings if I come close to her or if a cock comes close, even other hens.

Is this because she is in pain and doesn't want me or anyone elce to tuch her or because she is just somehow less tame now? Did she run away because of the cocks?

Will she run away again?

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

is she laying somewhere? i'm guessing she is scared - is she injured? i'd keep her cooped up for a couple days. i dont think that 3 days away will cause her to go wild.

and of course you know from reading the predators section that having them loose, unfenced, is inviting something to come and gobble up your lovely hens.

good luck!

 

[featheredfriendlover]

well since you said she dissapeared for 3 days and puffs up when you or a cock or another hen gets close to her im gonna bet she has a nest and is broody and the rain made her leave the nest. thats what im thinking anyway.

 

[Lollipop]

She`s broody. No doubt she has a nest hid out somewhere and has been setting for the last few days. She will dissapear again and only come back to eat, maybe once a day or every other day. If you can spot her in the yard and watch where she goes, you may find her nest. If you decide to move her, be sure to do it at night and put her in a small pen away from the others. If you aren`t worried about predators, you might be better off to leave her where she is.......Pop

 

[chickenguysmom]

That's what I was thinking. Our hen acted like that when she was nesting just to the othe rchickens. She never saw us as a threat and we had open access to her and the chicks. Of course we are the food source and the head of our flock.

I think she is just in protective mode. Soon she will come out with fuzzy-butts in tow. It takes a couple of weeks before she stops protecting them and that happens when they (the fuzzy-butts) can run away from other bigger chickens.

Good Luck.

 

[chickenguysmom]

Are there any updates on Coco?

 

[catlover8976]

Turned out she was broody, we moved her into the shed and so far has hatched out two cute chicks.

She had 6 eggs in all but steped on the first one before it came fully out of the egg. So we still have 3 eggs left that could hatch. This is our 22nd day.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

good for you!!!!! congrats on the babies - arent they just the cutest things?

 

[catlover8976]

Thank you! I love your sig.

 

[chickenguysmom]

Yeah for Coco! She didn't run away she just became a mommy.

Chickens are amazing.