Plum is missing!

[macmac955]

This is my buff Orpington, Plum. She just started laying eggs between this week and last week. Today I realized that she had been gone all day. I feel like a bad chicken mom but I figured she’d turn up. She didn’t. I free range my chickens and I’m probably going to keep them in the run even though it’s probably too small for 8 birds. I figured she got attacked or is hiding in a nest somewhere, which is plausible because my other hens should be laying too and they’re not. It’s currently storming and pouring BUCKETS and I’m really worried for my poor girl Plum

 

[Eggcessive]

Be back out there first thing in the morning at daylight with food and water. Make some normal noise, and wait for her to come. She may be hungry, and if she is broody, she may come looking for a quick bite. I hope that you find her.

 

[macmac955]

Has Plum shown up yet I hope?

No

 

[jpalmatier83]

Fingers crossed.

If she is broody or laid up somewhere, the rain may very well be keeping her from coming home.

On the plus side, heavy rain keeps the predators down too.

If you don’t see big patches of buff feathers anywhere, I’d hope you see her tomorrow.

 

[Tookie]

So sorry to hear about Plum. Hopefully she'll come back, or you find her.
Could you look around for her maybe? Do you have many woods around you?
If there's no feathers nearby, that's a good sign I'd say.

 

[Tookie]

Thank you. I looked around for her after locking everyone up, but there is so much woodland around us that it was impossible to search every nook and cranny for a spot where she could be broody. (Also no feathers that I found)

Did she ever respond to something...such as shaking a bag of treats...and come to you?

 

[Tookie]

I brought out the treats today and she wasn’t there. I gave it a good shake too. I only looked around for her while I was searching for her though.

Everyday a couple times you could go look for her a bit with the treats, just an idea.
If a predator doesn't get her I'd assume she'd come back.
Do you have many predators around you?

 

[Tookie]

No

So sorry to hear, there's still some hope left though!

 

[macmac955]

Did Plum ever show up?

No I think she’s gone for good.

 

[Tookie]

My mom told me she saw a hawk yesterday. We also get possums, weasels, foxes, and more occasionally just from having the woods around us.

I hope Plum doesn't get caught by one.