Very angry. Locked up yesterday and everyone was home. Go down to unlock and feed, Dutchess the Ancona is nowhere to be found. Just vanished. No holes in the fence or anything, she probably got out by flying out.
We have stray cats, so if she broke out she's probably gone. Not a cheap loss either, cost me €20. Husband has promised me a new hen or a hen and rooster to feel better.
A buddy's wife moved down here from Marquette.
They don't care.
Trouble breathing sucks. I'm about over my bronchitis but had a coughing fit yesterday.
Ancona chicken or duck?
I used to have ancona chickens. I really liked them.
I hope she comes back.
I have a hen that hasn't gone into the coop at night the last 2 nights only to show up the next morning. I haven't been able to find the tree she's sleeping in.
Only a matter of time with raccoons, opossums, mink, owls, etc. before she doesn't come back. If she's here in the morning I need to lock her up when she goes in to lay her egg.
Update: the hen has returned to the coop! I was throwing some green matter from the garden out to the others and changing out the water when I hear the rustle of feathers and her weird strangled crow. She then pops out of the bushes, leading to a small chase where I finally got her into the run. Just got back upstairs to tell the story.
I still have no clue where she was. Husband and I will be catching her and trimming more off of her wings, since it takes a lot of trimming before we find the length that won't let her fly over. All I know is that when she retires from egg laying, we are NEVER buying an ancona chicken again. This flightiness thing is going to give me a heart attack, and with her being the top of the pecking order the other hens WILL NOT eat until she begins eating.
Hi
