Lost a Chicken

[louisebarnhill]

I have 4 chickens until a few days ago and lost one. My girls have free ranged during the day as long as I am home. If I leave it's back in the coop. They are 1 1/2 yrs old and very sweet and well behaved. The coop is Amish built purchased new with an 8x8 enclosed coop and an 8x8 enclosed yard all covered by a metal roof. We live out in the country far from neighbors. Everything has been going so smoothly until, like I said earlier, a few days ago. I called the girls in at 6 pm (they never go more than a 75 foot radious away from the coop) and only 3 came running. They were chirpy and seemed calm. Now
I let the girls out only in the morning while we drink coffee and have full visual of them. Maybe 2 hrs. I worry the coop and yard is too small for them to spend all day "cooped" up in. They have a swing and plenty to do but they sit at the door and "yell" at me every time I go outside for just a minute. I know confined is better than dead but will they adjust. They are pretty mad and I feel bad for them. Thanks for the support.

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

As long as they have 10-12sqft per chicken in the run minimum they should be content.

 

[louisebarnhill]

10 to 12 sq ft per chicken..uh oh....that requires math...the enclosed run is 8 ft by 8 ft for 3 chickens......so I need 36 square ft. I guess my coop is 64 square ft. They are good then....just mad because they are spoiled! Thank you for your reply.

 

[Mrs. K]

Chickens hate change, but are more adaptable than many think. Eventually they will not be too sure about being out all day. I keep mine in 24/7 lock down, when I have had a hit, as it is a pretty easy meal for a predator, and they will be back.

Mrs K

 

[50-45-1]

I wonder if you found no feathers and the other chickens were not freeked out, if your missing hen has stolen a nest outside and gone broody..
Most times of you look long enough ther will be feather loss when a preditor makes off with a bird, also the othe chickens will be traumatized for a time.
Sometimes i have thought i have lost a hen and then some morni g she appears back in the yard with a bunch of baby chicks.
It will not matter to the hen that you have no rooster and the eggs never hatch.
I hope this is the case and you find her

 

[rosemarythyme]

They're mad because they're used to being let out. If you continue to confine them they should gradually get used to that as being the new normal. Your set up should be plenty big for the birds you have.

 

[Shadrach]

You can make confined life more tolerable for your chickens if you have things in your run to entertain them.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I have 4 chickens until a few days ago and lost one. My girls have free ranged during the day as long as I am home. If I leave it's back in the coop. They are 1 1/2 yrs old and very sweet and well behaved. The coop is Amish built purchased new with an 8x8 enclosed coop and an 8x8 enclosed yard all covered by a metal roof. We live out in the country far from neighbors. Everything has been going so smoothly until, like I said earlier, a few days ago. I called the girls in at 6 pm (they never go more than a 75 foot radious away from the coop) and only 3 came running. They were chirpy and seemed calm. Now
I let the girls out only in the morning while we drink coffee and have full visual of them. Maybe 2 hrs. I worry the coop and yard is too small for them to spend all day "cooped" up in. They have a swing and plenty to do but they sit at the door and "yell" at me every time I go outside for just a minute. I know confined is better than dead but will they adjust. They are pretty mad and I feel bad for them. Thanks for the support.

One of mine went missing for a spell. We had a hawk scare (no attack, just stalking), and she got spooked and took off. I have a fenced yard for the chickens, and she was nowhere to be found. I was worried she jumped the fence and ran off or got taken after the hawk flew out of our tree. The next morning, I found her in our yucca - safe and sound.

My sister had one disappear for weeks only to turn up with newly hatched chicks.

Point is, maybe she'll turn up yet.