Sad day...Nuggets gone and I don't think she's coming home.

[DelcoChix]

Just feeling pretty sad--Nugget, one of our two (almost 2 year old) Buckeye hens who free range in our backyard (due to getting tormented by the rest of the girls), didn't come into the shed last night at bedtime, only her sister, Patty was there. This has happened before and although we have no idea where she went, she was always aroud the next morning, and never in this awful, bitter cold. We searched last night--nothing. And were praying this morning as the sun came up...and again after school and work..nothing, DD and I went for a hike up our fencerow, the only tracks we saw were bunnies (lots), and wild birds....nothing, looked under the shed, int he barn, around the house...and with all the snow their tracks look like dinosaurs, again, zilch. Was looking like a doofus this morning before work, all dressed up, in my snow boots, zero degrees, shaking the scoop with BOSS/scratch. So sad. I was worried as the temps are quite cold right now, sub zero last night. It's possible that a fox or coyote got her, but no tracks, feathers,etc.
Just feeling pretty bad--why didn't we keep them in...but knowing they were happy outside and not picked on..and now Patty is alone. She did want to go into the coop with the rest of the girls, so she's not alone...but these girls would come to the back door for treats. I feel really bad for Patty...and myself. OK--done with the pity party. Well, almost. Maybe a little more.....

 

[NottinghamChicks]

So sorry about your hen. It's a tough life keeping chickens and keeping them all happy and safe.

Hope she comes home.

 

[pruitt514]

Sorry for your loss

Maybe she will come back.

 

[DelcoChix]

Thanks--I keep hoping she will...but the reality of the zero to sub zero temps are hard to avoid.
Just figures...the one I wouldn't mind losing won't.....(now I just sound mean, don't I?) Ooops

 

[peterlund]

Sub zero temps!!!! Maybe she took a train to Florida! I hope your chicken comes back... Maybe with a tan! Good luck. I too have lost quite a few birds and it isn't easy to picture the deed... Just be assured that you did give them freedom and love.

 

[chicknmania]

How sad, but she might come back stilll. Keep your fingers crossed. Stranger things have happened.
We dont have too much problem with predators in winter. Had a possum in the barn today, but we were
able to escort him outside again. It is so cold, I think he was just coming in to get warm.
Ps: I know Buckeyes don't mind the cold, and snow, but are you sure she's outside? Could she be wherever they roost at night?
Maybe she's sick and hiding somewhere?

 

[DelcoChix]

Thanks for the kind thoughts...but if she did head to Florida without telling us...I'm going to eat her....ha,ha.
I will probably be looking for her for quite awhile, just hoping she'll show up. The reality is though, she and Patty were always near each other...the rare nights in the fall (usually after high school football games...late night) when she didn't make it in to roost, the first thing in the morning she'd be right outside the coop, waiting to eat...and now that there's nothing to scratch for, all under the ice and snow I just have a bad feeling something got her...there should be tracks outside, feathers,something...I guess it's the not knowing that's almost as bad as knowing it's bad news...she was special.
Oh yeah, she and Patty just began to lay eggs again, after a 3 month molting hiatus...sigh. Will still keep hoping, until I learn otherwise.

 

[Firearia]

Awww, I hope you find your girl. You never know, I thought I've lost chickens before. Actually I'll tell you a story, it's not in winter time but it's still happy. A long time ago when I was in grade two me and my friends were outside in the forest and we found a little brown chicken. Stupidly we chased her. The next day she was there, and the day after that. For a whole week, after that someone came to get her. I still don't know how his chicken got all the way over to our house, gee, it must have taken her hours. So she survived and somehow didn't get eaten! xD

 

[DelcoChix]

Quote:
Sorry I didn't answer your question (been a veerrrryyy long week)....Yes, I'm sure she's outside, wherever she may be. The rest of our flock are in runs except when we let them out (in better weather) while we're home. It is only the two Buckeyes who have..had..free rein as if they were kept with the rest they would be picked on terribly. They have a spot in the horsebarn where they lay their eggs, come up to the back door for treats, and at night go back into the shed/coop where they roost outside of the coop area on the nestboxes. Now Patty is roosting with the rest but will be out if she wants (waits by the door if she wants out. They were special girls...spoiled, yeah. Three nights of zero to sub-zero temps...don't think she's coming home. I will probably not really believe she's gone until we find her body...will look out back every morning hoping to see her, for a while anyways. The downside to liking/loving these silly birds, but wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[artsyrobin]

you never know, remember they are better with cold than we are- and miracles do happen- look at this story of peanut
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=449579