Lost Chicken

[ljames]

I have been letting my chicks out for part of the day, under supervision. They're fully feathered but our coop construction hit a roadblock and their temporary structure is getting crowded. One of my girls is extremely hard to catch. Today we had a tornado warning so I was trying to gather them all up quickly. I got the rest of the flock but she took off to the talk field grass. She was crying for her flock mates so I moved towards the house thinking she's come out of the tall grass when she felt less threatened. After a few minutes I still didn't see her so I headed back over to the field. She was nowhere to be found. She could be hiding in the tall grass but she isn't making a peep. I'm afraid she's gone for good! I know this is a fact of life when raising chickens but this is my first flock and in devastated! Is there a different approach I should take to prevent this in the future?

 

[Mrs. K]

When I raised a batch one summer, I let them out in the garden, and like you it was a bit stressful to round them up, then one day I left the box I was carrying them in, and the wind blew it over on the side, come dark, they were all in the box.

Won't work for a middle of the day round up, but try training them with a shaking can when you give them a treat. Eventually they will come running.

Hope the little one does come back.

MRs K

 

[ljames]

I'll have to try that in the future. Sadly my little girl did not return. Its now dark here and a full fledged thunderstorm. I think a hawk got her.

 

[michele1978]

I'm dealing with two brand new runaways tonight. I went to catch them both they were being so good today hanging out with my older hens. Well they were getting scared because the storm was coming and I couldn't catch them fast enough(unfortunately my 9 year old help is scared to touch or grab them so she's not much help). They went running for the thick brush that surrounds my yard and I couldn't get in there to get them. My husband got home just when all this was happening he couldn't flush them out they went in deeper. Then it got to windy and dangerous to be outside. When we came in we seen one back outside the brush so he went to get her and she run right back in. Then later after 2 others were crying for hours for her one came to the coop but wouldn't let me get her and kept running back in the brush. Finally it was dark enough and I was able to spot her and get her back to but in the coop. Never did find the other one at all. Hopefully she makes the night and will come out of hiding by morning and nothing gets her tonight.

It's terriable my daughters been crying half the night and that makes me feel worse.

Hopefully yours shows back up by morning. That's what in hoping here.