one of my girls is missing.

[newchik715]

My favorite EE from a little chick is not in the coop tonight. I have been having trouble rounding them up and so they have putting themselves away. The neighbors report seeing her on their car but I can not find her in any tree or any favorite spot in the yard. I searched the neighbor's trees as well and can not find her. Our predator count is pretty low. One raccoon in four years...nothing else so far. Do you think she is hiding somewhere? What do chickens do at night if they get seperated from the rest of the flock? Do you think she could still be alright. I am so scared for her and if i think about what could be happening to her......any thoughts please.....

 

[petesgirl]

So sorry you are worried. A friend of mine had a young hen missing for 2 nights. She finally appeared one morning. Your EE might have found a nice safe spot to wait out the night.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

Good luck! One of my girls mysteriously disappeared a few months back for a night, and the next morning she was outside of the coop wanting to be let back in. I hope your little girl turns up, too.

It's impossible not to worry about them!

 

[justbugged]

Where are you in Washington? The city of Seattle has a very large Raccoon population.

 

[savingdogs]

I'm in Washington too, but I know I have tons of predators. My favorite hen did not come back from free ranging about two months ago. She never did come back. I hope you have better luck. We also had a report that ours was seen a half mile or so from the house....or at least a chicken like her, but we don't really know what happened.

I still look for her.

 

[pgpoultry]

Hi, I live in Wales, so predators mainly limited to buzzards, crows, kites and foxes.

I currently have a hen who is staying out every night (I think she has found somewhere really sheltered to sleep). She is pretty well feral now only coming back in the morning to steal a bit of goat and cat food. This has been going on for a few weeks.

Another hen I have always sleeps outside on the dog's outside bed.

Both hens seem to have a survival strategy (to date anyway!)

Hopefully your hens will find their way back to you as clearly they do have some capacity for survival,

Sandie

 

[newchik715]

She was standing outside the gate this morning, I may have to clip her wings but she is fine. And I am in Northern Washington in a residential area. We have honestly only ever seen the one raccoon. I know that doesn't mean there are not more but predator count is still very low where I am. I thank God it is too bc my girl came home safe!

 

[Kittymomma]

I'm glad you found her. My EE girls have been very broody, have you been getting eggs from her or is it possible that she's got a nest hidden somwhere? Mine often do a test run on the nest overnight before going full blown broody...Get those wings clipped.

 

[Ruth Ann]

Glad she came home

 

[newchik715]

She hasn't even begun to lay yet.....I plan to clip them all as I am too worried she will lead a chicken revolution and the neighbor's dog is seriously hoping this occurs.