I have one chicken who disappears for days at a time. She hops the outer fence and I assume she has been taken by a predator, then she shows up 2-4 days later to join the flock and eat.
The rest of the flock behaves naturally when she joins them. Then, she seems to just disappear and I won't see her for a week.
When I do see her she looks healthy and hops over the fence to wherever she goes.
Asked neighbors all around, even our chicken keeper neighbor next door, who we have a good relationship with. He counts his girls each night and is on the lookout for her, too.
I found her nesting behind a gate on the other side of our property, yesterday. Assumed she was laying, so I let her be. She was still there last night, then again this morning. Not perched. On the ground. We even still have frost here.
How she survives, I don't know. This has gone on for over a month. I see she is gone from her little nesting spot right now, but nowhere to be seen. My husband thinks she is sick, but on inspection, she looks quite healthy. Any thoughts?
The rest of the flock behaves naturally when she joins them. Then, she seems to just disappear and I won't see her for a week.
When I do see her she looks healthy and hops over the fence to wherever she goes.
Asked neighbors all around, even our chicken keeper neighbor next door, who we have a good relationship with. He counts his girls each night and is on the lookout for her, too.
I found her nesting behind a gate on the other side of our property, yesterday. Assumed she was laying, so I let her be. She was still there last night, then again this morning. Not perched. On the ground. We even still have frost here.
How she survives, I don't know. This has gone on for over a month. I see she is gone from her little nesting spot right now, but nowhere to be seen. My husband thinks she is sick, but on inspection, she looks quite healthy. Any thoughts?
