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

[ams3651]

one of my girls, who is apparently the only one of my chickens who likes snow, gets out every day and I put her back in later on. The other night she didnt come around when I went out. I assumed she went inside, with everyone running around I didnt get a good count. The next night same thing, couldnt find her when I went back out but my boyfriend said she had just been there, he was outside. Sure enough I found her in a small cabinet I had outside for my broody and chicks last summer. She must have spent the previous night there as well. It was -5 that morning. She may have found a nice spot, just hoping.

 

[chicknmania]

That's surprising that you're not finding any feathers or anything, that's why I wondered if maybe she got sick or injured...I don't know how broody Buckeyes get but you know we HAVE had a few beautiful sunny days lately.....and we had one hen already go broody, just for two days, but still....and if yours is broody you may not find her so easily....I feel for you, we have lost a few, and it always hurts. Better days ahead, though....

 

[DelcoChix]

Artsyrobin--Thanks for the link--what a great ending, sure offers hope, maybe with the heatwave we are expecting this week, she'll return?

chicknmania--Yea, I was prepared to find a pile of feathers, or worse, when dd and I hiked up the fencerow quite aways. With the snowcover we saw lots of tracks for mostly bunnies, our cats
and some little birds...but nothing remotely the size of the Buckeye tracks we have in the path from house to barn to coop/shed area. I guess the most negative thing is she and her sister, Patty, were always near each other, not wing to wing, but when you saw one, it doesn't take long to see the other..and right now, Patty is begging at the back door (again--the spaghetti apparently wasn't enough for her). They were nicknamed Thelma & Louise--so when she hasn't shown up for three days now I have a sinking feeling.....and I know she wasn't sick, or injured unless it happened the day she went missing...she has just (finally) finished a long molt and had her feathers back, looked great and also starting layiing eggs again less than a week ago.
I wish she had gone broody, that is a possibility--never has and no rooster around, but that's possible...hmmmm..might need to climb up into the haystack..a little more hope

ams3651--Although we have searched as best as we can, I have a feeling she could find a hiding place if she was really determined...I even looked under the shed (on my knees in the snow/ice), and in the woodpile, but maybe if she was feeling broody she found a great spot like yours did, she was a smart girl...

Will keep looking, hoping, and praying...and now I've got some hay to climb up into....

Thanks all for your ideas and encouragement!

 

[Suzie]

Come home Nugget! You are sorely missed....!

Your Mum is worried and Patty is fed up that you are in hiding or are broody.....

My thoughts are with you - hopefully she will show up soon - I had three new chickens (from a friend) and they would not go into the hen house, it was bitterly cold, snowing and windy but they all survived the three nights out - I thought they were gone for good but miracles DO happen!

Be positive and keep us updated!!!

Suzie

 

[The Turken Lady]

Quote:
Trust me,she wouldn't want to come here either. It was below freezing this morning. I'm so sorry about your loss.

I really hope she comes back!!

Please keep us informed about what happens.

 

[Captain Carrot]

sorry to hear about that. It's awful to loose birds.

 

[CathyM]

So sorry to hear about your hen -- I hope perhaps she found a warm place at some neighbors!

 

[chicknmania]

Well, if she is broody, her friend won't stick around, and probably doesn't know where she is. I hope that's all it is. A long time ago we had a hen disappear for weeks, it was in the spring though...but when she re-appeared (chickless) I was amazed. To this day I have no idea where she was, but she must've been setting somewhere. But when they go broody, as you may know, they'll pick some weird places to do it. We had another little hen hatch six chicks in a flower pot on a shelf once; the pot was just barely big enough for her! We had no idea she was there, til they hatched.

 

[axion_lotus]

I hope she comes back to you.

 

[MareeZoCool]

I am so VERY sorry your hen has come up MIA ! My favorite hen has been missing 4 months now, and I think my roo is still hunting and calling for her daily. I plan to bring home another hen from the same breeder, as soon as I can get a ride to the ranch. At this point, I don't know who will be more excited about the new hen; Ben-Roo, . . . or Me!