Missing Chicken!

[theCandEs]

We will keep looking tomorrow. It's just so strange that we just saw her, and then she was gone. I thought maybe she got separated from the rest and is lost. I don't know. I don't think there is anywhere she could be that we don't know about.

Thanks to everyone who replied!

 

[desertdarlene]

Hopefully, she's just hiding from the hawk somewhere and is afraid to come out.

 

[theCandEs]

Well, I don't know. It's dark now, and we lock them up every night. I would be very happy if I see her in the morning, but I'm not overly optimistic.

 

[theCandEs]

Maybe it is time for us to get a new dog. My children want a puppy anyway.

 

[daytonfarm]

Don't give up hope, our hen went missing, and I saw her the next day (they all free range during the day) and then she was missing again in the afternoon. Finally found her squeezed between the air conditioner and the house sitting on 13 eggs! We waited until dark and moved her and the eggs back to a broody coop. She has since hatched 5 of the cutest chicks around. In the morning look in all the tight places you can think of, under the deck, corners behind/under bushes. Try to remember what direction you last saw her moving toward.

 

[theCandEs]

I'm going out there now to see if I can find her. I would have thought if it was an animal that got her, there would be some sign of a struggle, but there is nothing. No feathers or anything. My husband says he didn't hear anything outside, and usually they stay close to the house. I'm just sick about this. I would like to know what happened to her, at least.

 

[carrlr]

I'm holding out hope you'll find her. Gone without a trace is a difficult situation. Keep us informed.

 

[boxermom]

I lost one last year. I was just sick, as she was my first loss. Poof! She reappeared the next day! Hang in there, she just might show up yet.

 

[theCandEs]

This is our first loss, too. Here I thought we were doing so well. It's been 8 months without an incident. I suppose your luck has to run out at some point, but I was hoping for the best. I just walked around the entire property again, but I'm even more worried now. There is a possibility she could have gone over to the neighbors property and gotten lost. Our property is fenced up to a certain point, then there is an area where you can walk down one side of the fence or the other. If she walked down the wrong side, she might not know how to get back. Also, the neighbors have a shed that does not look "chicken friendly." There is a gap underneath of it, and a lot of debris lying around the outside. I think my husband checked it out yesterday, though. I hate to go over there. I know the wife is home because she works from home. Anyway, our property is wooded, but there is not much underbrush, so you can see a good ways. I didn't see or hear anything. If she is on the neighbor's side, then it will be hard to find her without asking for their permission. Our rooster has been crowing all morning, so I would hope that if she is alive, she can follow the sound back to us.

 

[bakerjw]

I had one of my Seabright hens go missing on Saturday. I was really bummed out as they are such delicate and timid birds. Late yesterday afternoon she came wandering out with the rest of the flock. So sometimes they do come back.