roo ran off

[kasey08]

i let my rir hen and roo out for the first time both adults. it got dusk and they still wasnt in coop so i caught the hen and figured the roo would follow went back later and he was gone so i desided to close the coop bc i didnt want something to be able to get my hen. the next morning there is no sign of him so now my hen is all alone

why didnt he go back to the coop? ive had them for 2 months

 

[Jenski]

Uhhh . . . if you let your two chickens out in a (large?) area unsupervised and without the protection of a covered pen, I would suspect that something ate him. Chickens need protection from predators if they are to survive.

 

[theoldchick]

Most likely ran off, or eaten, by a predator.

 

[kasey08]

yeah but ive read on here that they would go back to the coop when it was about to be dark

 

[sourland]

Chickens dislike change. Since it was his first time out, he hadn't figured out how to get back to the coop. It takes some of them forever to figure things out or to adapt to change. I agree he was probably eaten by a predator. Make sure your coop is secure. The predator will return.

 

[Keara]

It often takes a week or so of me putting the buggers in the coop each night before they figure it out. I have learned over the years that if you lock them in the coop for a couple of days, once you let them out they are more likely to go back in on thier own.

 

[emys]

Unfortunately, I have to agree with the other posters. I think he was dead before dark, he must have died protecting his hen during the day sometime. It only takes a few minutes for a dog or coyote to carry off a chicken.

 

[kasey08]

no he was there when i caught the hen i guess he didnt want to get put back in. they are both more wild then my other chickens so there is no way i could have caught him.

and ive had them for 2 months so i just figured they would know to go back in?

 

[justtoni44]

HI,
I know you did not do anything to put your rooster in danger..........as implied by some other posters.
I agree, he may have been taken by a preditor.............He may also return on his own when he feels like it.or could be confused about getting back to the coop.

This is really hard enough when we lose a chicken without having guilt pilled on.
I purchased 4 three month old sliver laced wyn's recently.They were so cute and just hung around with each other. I paid a lot for them.I had them out with my others,24,just a few weeks younger. When I went to check on them..two of the new ones were missing. I believed they were safe.or I wouldn't have had them out......the two of them disappeared,not a sound, not a feather.....we looked and looked.and waited and waited hoping for their return......Anyway, I do not know what happened to them.am thinking hawks now.
Don't be hard on yourself. These learning curves are difficult and sometimes even our best efforts fail.

 

[kasey08]

its ok i just wanted to let me be chickens and free range i thought they would have the best chance since they are rir and meaner then my silkies but i guess i wont ever let any free range again