Lost our hen!

[michiganch]

So after our chicken passed yesterday, my dad decided to get some new chickens. He came back with a spangled old english bantam hen and rooster. We usually let our chickens roam free for an hour or two and leave our dog in the garage so he won't attack them, he's a major chicken killer.. So anyways I usually round up the chickens and they all return to the coop, the hen got spooked since this is new to her and ran off into the tall grass by a ditch/small river. I spent more than two hours searching for her and didn't find her. The water is very shallow so if she fell, I'd be able to find her. What should I do to make her come back? We have many miles of woods behind us and an empty field on the other side of the ditch, so her being prey is a problem..

 

[KrisH]

So after our chicken passed yesterday, my dad decided to get some new chickens. He came back with a spangled old english bantam hen and rooster. We usually let our chickens roam free for an hour or two and leave our dog in the garage so he won't attack them, he's a major chicken killer.. So anyways I usually round up the chickens and they all return to the coop, the hen got spooked since this is new to her and ran off into the tall grass by a ditch/small river. I spent more than two hours searching for her and didn't find her. The water is very shallow so if she fell, I'd be able to find her. What should I do to make her come back? We have many miles of woods behind us and an empty field on the other side of the ditch, so her being prey is a problem..

probably should have kept them penned for a few weeks first, BUT that said, you might consider using a short leash on the dog and have him/her help with the search. need someone to handle the dog and someone with a net for the bird. (Had a poodle that hated hampsters, but when one got loose, she would help us track them down!)

RobertH

 

[michiganch]

I attempted to take the dog to help look but he was too excited and unfocused to help. She is extremely small and my mom and aunt helped look too.. We couldn't find her, do you think she'll show up eventually??