- Jun 4, 2011
- 695
- 8
- 111
Went out to the coops this morning to let everyone out and do routine chores....everyone accounted for....
Went back to the house for breakfast and what-not....about an hour or so as usual, then back out to the barn. Did routine head count.....someone was missing! Molly! I couldn't find Molly! I looked EVERYWHERE.
Whenever I go back to the house and come back, everyone usually comes arunnin' because they think I might have treats (cuz I usually do). But no Molly!
I should tell you that it took me a very, VERY long time to leave them alone while I ran back to the house for something or other. When I first started to let them free range, I would pack a lunch, my laptop, a stitching project (why I took this I'll never know...I was always way too busy playing with my babies to ever pick it up once) and whatever else I thought I might need. If I forgot something, I did without it. I watched them like a hawk every minute and was a compulsive head-counter.
Ever so gradually "I" was able to leave them for longer and longer periods of time...never more than a couple of hours or so though. Especially when the weather was bad. My girls couldn't care less what the weather is....They like to be OUT.
Now I'm afraid again. There are absolutely no signs (feathers, pieces, parts, etc). I know there are predators that leave none...I just can't think of which ones they are....
I can only hope that she just went off and got a little lost and will find her way back again. Which would be odd because unless one is laying, my 3 oldest RIR's hang closely with their roo. Sigh.
Went back to the house for breakfast and what-not....about an hour or so as usual, then back out to the barn. Did routine head count.....someone was missing! Molly! I couldn't find Molly! I looked EVERYWHERE.
Whenever I go back to the house and come back, everyone usually comes arunnin' because they think I might have treats (cuz I usually do). But no Molly!
I should tell you that it took me a very, VERY long time to leave them alone while I ran back to the house for something or other. When I first started to let them free range, I would pack a lunch, my laptop, a stitching project (why I took this I'll never know...I was always way too busy playing with my babies to ever pick it up once) and whatever else I thought I might need. If I forgot something, I did without it. I watched them like a hawk every minute and was a compulsive head-counter.
Ever so gradually "I" was able to leave them for longer and longer periods of time...never more than a couple of hours or so though. Especially when the weather was bad. My girls couldn't care less what the weather is....They like to be OUT.
Now I'm afraid again. There are absolutely no signs (feathers, pieces, parts, etc). I know there are predators that leave none...I just can't think of which ones they are....
I can only hope that she just went off and got a little lost and will find her way back again. Which would be odd because unless one is laying, my 3 oldest RIR's hang closely with their roo. Sigh.
