missing hens

[cresent moon poultry]

I have 4 barred rock hens that are missing, first 1 disappeard then the next day 3 more where gone. then the next day 7 bantom chickens went missing, and now a few of the bantoms will show up for a littlie while and then they will diappear. where are they?(my chickens free range)

 

[1cock2hens]

you are going to have to follow them and find out for yourself, they could be running off for any reason and held up just about anywhere. they probably found a safer feeling spot

 

[townchicks]

Probably some of them are in a predators belly, and some may be setting on nests somewhere.

 

[Shadrach]

The Bantams will probably be up a tree when dusk comes.
Do they have a coop, or do they sleep outside?
It's just one of the drawbacks with free range chickens.
If you leave food out for them permanently take it up. What I did mainly so I could do a head count was hand feed them something nice (small pieces of cheese, walnuts and grapes work well) towards dusk wherever I found them. Day by day I moved closer to where I wanted them. Eventually they got used to treat time at the final location and tended to be there waiting at dusk. The Bantams still went up a tree but at least I knew where they were and could start getting them used to the idea that a coop at night wasn't such a bad idea.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

You should have 'trained' your chickens by having a metal bucket of snacks or whatever and make it habit to shake or tap the bucket with a stick for treat time, that way they know when to come for it...... would have helped you a ton in this case. With that many gone, they were probably killed off by a predator and the rest got spooked and took off into the woods afraid to come back.

 

[cresent moon poultry]

if they are on a nest then when will they come back?

 

[Shadrach]

I think you should go and look for them
.

 

[cresent moon poultry]

I do