New to BYC

[planewhisperer]

Just joined BYC. We had one hen and one rooster, but today they flew out of the run area with a 4 foot fence. Just got them today they were about 10 months old. They were black silver tips. Do you think they will be back or should I just get some more? I will be installing a fence top on my run and coop areas to prevent this again. Any suggestions and advise would be greatly appreciated. I am new to the chicken raising thing. So I need some help please. Have a good evening.

 

[americana-lover]

 

[LiveFromTahoe]

They should come back. I had a bear rip through my coop to get the scraps and not sure if he took a chicken or the chicken just ran out the hole to get away from the bear but the chicken came back that night just fine. Look out there a few hours after dark and they'll likely be waiting to get back in if they didn't fly back over the fence. Also may want to look up in the trees. They go up there if they are spooked

 

[Hokum Coco]

You might be lucky enough to catch them. They did not go too far. Hunger may lure them back to the coop. Good luck! Welcome aboard Planewhisperer. Clipping the flight feathers on one wing might have prevented this. Here is a link on clipping primary feathers:.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Clipping-Chicken-Wings/step4/Cut-back-the-primary-flight-feathers/

 

[tammyfarms]

I am not familiar with silver tips so... this is based on general chicken behavior. Since your avitar is a very cute pup, I have to ask, is there any chance that he/she got after them and chased them from the other side of the fence - maybe scared them to fly over the opposite side and they took off from there? It is possible they are trying to return home, how far do you live from where you bought them? How high is your fence? It is always a good idea to have a top on the fence, or cut their wings so they can't fly over the fence.
My guess is that they will not be back since you only just got them. Usually they need to spend a few nights at a new home to know that it is home. Sorry....

 

[tammyfarms]

After reading a couple other posts I had a thought. Live from Tahoe mentioned that they might be in the trees.... if they took off right around dark, and they have not been gone too long you might be able to find them with a flashlight. Mine usually make some soft cooing noises if they are roosting in the trees. If they are up too high to reach I usually shake the tree until they come out and herd them back into the coop.
Good luck!

 

[planewhisperer]

Thanks for all the info. My fence is 4 feet. And yes I will be putting a fence on top. No my puppy Naomi was not outside. The hen flew over the fence then about 5 minutes later the rooster did. Its about 8 miles where I got them from. Hopefully they come back, I sure hope so they are beautiful chickens. I live out in the country with no neighbors. I pray no critter gets them. I would not care if someone caught them and keep them rather than them getting killed. Thanks

 

[Hokum Coco]

Any sign of your birds???

 

[lesgo54]

get a light and a dipnet and go look for them before the night critters find them

 

[tammyfarms]

Did they come back???? I sure hope so!