Missing pullet

[Noellereagan]

I had a hen missing for two months and she came home with 14 chicks just yesterday. So anything is possible.

How cool.

 

[Echilde]

How cool.

Yep. It was pretty amazing watching her herding them back home. Of course now I am at 77 chickens lol. Oh well, what's a crazy chicken lady to do?

 

[goldysgirl]

Yep. It was pretty amazing watching her herding them back home. Of course now I am at 77 chickens lol. Oh well, what's a crazy chicken lady to do?

Haha! That is awesome. I always say I would have 100 if I had the space and money! She probably just wanted to get some peace and quiet with all of those other hens around!

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

I’m going through the same thing as you right now.

I have a young hen who just went missing, she’s the sweetest thing so I’m very upset.

I looked everywhere and couldn’t find her or any clues. Whenever I’ve lost a bird I normally find a body or at least feathers.

We live on 31 acres of woods so I do believe that it’s very possible that she was still taken by a predator, but again normally I at least see some feathers from a struggle.

I’m hoping you find your girl!

 

[Trevorusn]

I’m going through the same thing as you right now.

I have a young hen who just went missing, she’s the sweetest thing so I’m very upset.

I looked everywhere and couldn’t find her or any clues. Whenever I’ve lost a bird I normally find a body or at least feathers.

We live on 31 acres of woods so I do believe that it’s very possible that she was still taken by a predator, but again normally I at least see some feathers from a struggle.

I’m hoping you find your girl!

Same to you. I only have 1.9 acres and neighbors on all sides but none have seen her. So far the evidence points to her being somewhere around. Keeping the vigil!

 

[Trevorusn]

Nope. My neighnor and I looked everywhere we could think of, covering probably an acre or more and didn't find anything. I assume it was close though, just very well hidden.

Well that does make a fascinating story!! I don't know if she is close or in one of the adjacent abandoned buildings, and being I don't even know her breed but assuming hybrid it kind of surprises me if brooding is the case
But after searching and seeing no evidence of predation, I have to go with Spock's old quote on the answer.

 

[Trevorusn]

And now one of my cockerels has disappeared!! He was second to my BJG and could fly very well. Somehow he got over the covering and out five foot fencing. Is it possible he went to find the missing pullet??? They were close in flock rank and often tusseled with each other.

 

[Trevorusn]

I have had too much predation this year. It is a bad year for it. Many just go missing, some there are signs or the body left. Fox are good at snatching birds without a sign I'm finding out, and some hawks. I would assume you too have an unwanted visitor.

I've found no evidence though. Both birds disappeared during the day, and no feathers have been found. The cockerel in particular was fast and could fly. I have not seen any hawks around, the only real daytime threats around us. Its just very discouraging as we only started raising chickens in April and 2 have already wandered off. This is the part of raising chickens that is hard but never thought of when you decide to get into them!

 

[aart]

the only real daytime threats around us.

Sorry for your losses, hard not to know if they are dead or not.
This is where the Romance meets the Reality of free ranging.
All predators will hunt during the day if hungry.
Fast kill will leave few to no feathers, likely coyote or fox,
then they carry it away to eat or cache.
Good reason to have a secure run,
because it will be back for more until it can't get at them.

 

[Trevorusn]

After the first one disappeared we put up a fence around the coop and run and stopped free ranging, and then covered it with a tarp tied down so they had a shaded place. The tarp was also to keep the now missing cockerel from flying out as he would fly to the top of the coop then fly several feet and escape. We have a big 6.5 foot tall enclosed outdoor run coming next week specifically because of him, but I'm still baffled how he got out of the current setup. It is tough because there is no sign of what happened, and I have seen only one fox in the almost 3 years here, and that was well before we had chickens. Romance meets reality, good way to put it.