Missing hen!

[FancyPants]

I have two hens, both ten months - a silver laced wyandotte and a black silkie. They free range my backyard, but always are near the house as the sun sets. I was really busy over the holiday weekend and barely got to check on the girls. The last time I saw the silkie was Friday. During this time I noticed the wyandotte had gone broody for the first time. Yesterday I took away the two eggs she was sitting on, which ended her sit-in, or rather -on. I searched my backyard but I can't find the silkie.

How long will she sit on the eggs before she realizes they aren't fertile? Has anyone just lost a hen? If she dug her way under the fence would she really just take off and not try to make her way back to the coop?

I don't believe she was eaten/taken. No signs of a fight or struggle. My neighborhood and backyard are as close to predator-free as you can get. No raccoons, cats, foxes, etc. We have hawks but there are so many trees in my backyard it would be impossible to swoop. A good sign, I have an overabundance of quail in my backyard and still no one has seen or heard of a raccoon in my neighborhood in 30 years.

And just for curiosity sake - I have always wondered, could a hawk fly away with a silkie? Sounds impossible to me, but I have no experience! Has anyone seen this happen?

Thank you! Hopefully by the time someone responds, she'll be home!

 

[Mahonri]

A large hawk or owl could fly away with a silkie.

I imagine though that she is broody somewhere under some bush.

 

[joey7319]

They are very good at hiding. I was trying to round up my birds one day and saw a hen fly into a wild rose bush. I went to get her out and could not find her. I peeled the bush all apart before finally finding her. for a while I was thinking maybe see had somehow escaped the bush without me seeing. Hopefully she will turn up.

Good luck

Joey