My baby is MISSING.

[hispoptart]

I would also hold out hope that she will return, whats your location and what is the weather like there right now?

 

[Callender Girl]

It's hard not to be inconsolable when one of your babies is missing. Prepare for the worst, but hope for the best. I have cried buckets of tears over hens who took overnight "field trips" and came back in the morning.

Will be thinking about you and Mione. Keep us posted!!

 

[Eggcessive]

One of my hens would go all over, and try to lay eggs in places away from the coop. Then she suddenly disappeared for a month. One day she showed up with 7 baby chicks.

Others who have said to look under buckets and behind things in and around the coop to see if she has gotten stuck are right. I have had hens get stuck behind my nest boxes, trying to get away from a mean chicken.

Foxes will take chickens and disappear without a trace. Over the years I have lost some to a feral cat (silky,) and hawks, and presumably, a raccoon, all during the daylight in our yard. I hope you find her.

 

[TheFarm2019]

What's the bad weather event? My favorite went up into a tree and refused to come down for 2 days until our 1st snow melted and he could see grass again.

We have a ginormous cold front hitting us and it’s being rain, tornadoes, hail, you name it. I’m really worried if she doesn’t have protection.

 

[Waves]

Have you found her?

 

[TheFarm2019]

Update: we have not found her. My three other babies are so confused and sad. I’ve looked everywhere and under everything. Last night my mom and I thought we heard a holler but it ended up just being a dog barking far away. We’re looking again today, but I don’t think she’s roosting somewhere. I might put up signs and just ask for someone to tell us if they see her dead or alive.

 

[Waves]

crossed finger

 

[hayley3]

I want to believe that she’ll come back home, but my mom was going up and down the street asking any and everybody if they’d seen her and no one had. If she’s broody (even though we don’t have a rooster) I pray to God that she’s safe, especially in this storm that will be much worse tomorrow, and makes it back home to me soon.
It’s so hard not knowing if she’s okay or in pain or even in heaven.
Hermione come home. I miss my baby.

It's very hard when they don't come home.
I've had a broody buff orpington that stayed out overnight once and I worried so much. I was up bright and early and the next morning and she was there waiting to be let in so she could eat.
I've also had hens just disappear and never return. The fact that Hermione was attacked once, means it is very likely you have a predator stalking your chickens. Not sure where you live on the bay, but I've heard Eagles can swoop down and just pick up a chicken. Hawks are messy. Foxes nab and run and may or may not leave feathers depending.
I would carefully watch my other chickens. Those fake owls do not always work.

 

[TheFarm2019]

Alright, here's another update: Hermione is still gone. When I went home, I found one of her feathers in the yard. My mom and I both believe she was taken by an eagle since she disappeared without a trace and there was an eagle that flew right through our yard a week or so ago. The other babies are now only let out while someone is with them and must stay under the trees while we prep the yard some more. We're planning on stringing fishing line above our yard (probably at the tree line) so that big birds can't come down. I'll also be putting a camera out front and back to keep an eye on my girls while I'm at school. Hermione is gone and I officially hate eagles (and still hate hawks), but this will never happen again.

 

[Callender Girl]

I am so sorry about your baby. Good for you, taking steps to keep your remaining girls safe. I've been down that road myself. I still hate mink!