Straying from flock

[Willowbirch]

I have two drakes (Pekin and Cayauga), one rooster (Easter Egger) and five hens (one Easter Egger, two buff orps, two barred rocks). They are all the same age and we're reared together since we got them at a week old in mid-May. Very nice flock, quite friendly to each other and generally happy to see us. They free range during the day (3 acres) and put themselves in at night. They do everything together. Last evening one of the buff hens sat outside our kitchen door and heckle/clucked while the rest of the flock stayed in the bushes. I went to hang out with them and noticed that the roo was gone. I called for him and he came running from the woods about 50 yards away. They ate and all seemed happy again. About 1/2 hr later my son left in his car and said that the Easter egger hen was in the road (100 yards away?) Very odd. These guys never stray far. The flock was weirdly quiet until i called her back. They headed to their coop for the night and I realized that one of the barred rock hens was missing. So I'm wondering - weird clucking, weird silences, straying rooster and then later straying hen and finally one girl goes missing. What gives?

 

[bobbi-j]

It's possible a predator scattered them and took your hen.

 

[MyISAbrownhens]

They could be having an odd couple of days, had there been any changes around where you live that could cause them to be act this way? Maybe they will act more normal in a few days, but f they continue to stray maybe it would be wise to get a fence, especially if they are starting to go in the road

 

[Willowbirch]

Turns out the missing hen put herself away last night before all the others went into the coop. She popped out this morning happy as a clam. That's weird. We are getting a new enclosure this weekend and keeping them penned from now on.