How does this happen?

[Rowsdower]

As a fairly new chicken mom (this is my first year), I find myself worrying constantly about these silly birds. They make me a little crazy, and not in a good way. I wake up in the middle of the night fearing that I forgot to latch the coop at least once a week (it's always latched, ftr). I've found myself driving home at near light speed just to get home before the dark critters come out. I finished my first chicken saddle two days ago because one of my girls "looked cold". But today takes the cake...

Around 3pm I noticed one of my girls missing so I walked the perimeter checking under bushes and in corners, listening for the slightest hen scratch and convincing myself that every little leaf rustle was her. I walked all through the woods behind the property and the surrounding properties. For two hours, I searched. I asked neighbors to no avail. As I was just about to break into a royal freakout, I opened the lid to the trash bin near their coop and there she was. She'd apparently somehow gotten into the bin without my knowledge and I had put the lid on with her inside. I snatched her up and kissed her all over, despite the fact that she now smells like a dirty trash can. I'm just glad it wasn't trash night. The garbage man might have gotten quite a shock...or breakfast.

 

[theoldchick]

Those chickens do the darndest things!

 

[Dowie]

I hate the way they hide!

Thank goodness you found her. What a smelly place to hide, the silly thing.

 

[redsoxs]

Quite a happy ending! Thanks for sharing. The things we do for our birds!