Oh gosh...I'm missing a hen tonight - Hen Found!!

[Lunachick]

It's my newest little hen that I just got at the end of Dec. She just started laying and was easing into the flock without too much trouble. The last two days I've let them out for an hour or so before sunset, it's been in the 50's during the day and will be 36 tonight at the coldest, so I'm not too worried weather wise, I've checked everywhere with my flashlight - I don't have a huge yard for her to be hiding in. I can't find her! It was just before dark when I went out to lock them up, counted 6 heads instead of 7.

I'm so worried! I'm just hoping & praying that she's hiding really well in a shrub or something! Our yard is surrounded by 6' cedar fence....and I checked as much as I could outside the fence, no hen. No feathers on the ground to give me any hint that she was attacked, everyone else seemed calm and relaxed.

Please wish me luck that I find her! She was so sweet, would land on my shoulder and "talk" in my ear every morning when I went out to feed & water them. All I can think of is that maybe an older hen gave her a poke and she jumped over the fence in her excitement, and that she is hiding for the night.

Please, please let her be there in the morning

 

[easttxchick]

Oh, I hope you find her.

I bet something just scared her and she is REALLY hiding tonight.
Hope she is waiting for you when you go out in the morning.

 

[tinychicky]

awww, i hope you find her

i'm sure she'll be there in the morning

 

[ranchhand]

Luna, I had one not show up for bedtime just last week. She's a light colored EE, thought she'd be easy to spot with a flashlight, but I couldn't find her all night. Called and called, searched every 2 hours. Nothing. Little stinker was on the front porch when the sun came up, looking for breakfast!

 

[gritsar]

 

[Lunachick]

Quote:
I think they hide really well while on their own! (I hope).........the measley flashlight I have wasn't great, so I'm hoping I just didn't see her. I checked 3 times already, I'll have to wait til morning I suppose....

Will not sleep well tonight. Charlene is light coloured too, light grey. Maybe she's in my neighbor's yard.....I was trying to see if she was over there without shining the flashlight into their house.

I hope I have the same outcome as your stinker in the morning. I'll be out there by 6 am calling and looking for her.

 

[TeamChaos]

ooh, I hope she's waiting for you in the morning!

The times I've been down a chicken at bedtime, I immediately fear that they've run off into the woods (or been carried there in something's mouth) but every time the missing lady has been close to the coop- sometimes they go under it instead of in, one was roosting on the fence because she couldn't figure out how to get to the door etc. so I say check around the coop really really well before you head off to search distant lands. Also, I swear chickens power down at sunset, so they won't come running when you're calling for them. I've been shocked to find a missing lady perched silently on a rafter in the barn when I've torn everything apart down below looking for them.

Best of luck!

 

[Cat Water]

Whenever I can't find one of my pullets at bedtime, I just get my plastic feed scoop and fill it with cracked corn. Then I walk out and shake it to make noise. They come running. Even after I search and call and look around with a flashlight, they come running. I hope you find her!

 

[Wendy'sChicksRock]

.

. Don't they make us crazy sometimes... I really hope she is there in the morning... if they only new how we worried about them... (((

. )))

 

[Chicken_Lover4567]

I'm sure she'll be waiting on your porch for you in the morning, begging for treats.

One of mine is missing as well, and we searched for hours. Praying that your girl (and mine!) make it home safely.