The case of the missing chicken.

[Wile E.]

A mystery. I let the chickens out this morning, then I carried in an armload of firewood. When I came back out I noticed one hen was missing. Looked around and could not find her. So, I was wondering, was she gone last night and I didn't notice?

I figured something got her. I tried to chase the others back in but they were having none of it. I had to go to work, so I told the wife to keep an eye out and a gun handy.

My wife just called, and now they are all there.

So the mystery was never solved, but a happy ending anyway.

 

[curious1969]

Does she have a hidden nest somewhere

 

[Wile E.]

Quote:
I don't know. These chickens are about 6 months old. One has been laying for about a month. None of the others have. At least that is what I assume. I get about 5 eggs per week and never more than one a day, always in the same nest box.

They are Buff Orps. I just started letting them out to forage to save feed and because the weather has been ridiculously warm lately. I had let them out a little bit before, mainly on weekends when I was home. I was a little nervous because it was dark before I got home, who knows what might show up before I lock them in. We have owls around for sure, and something had been chewing on a road killed deer nearby. So I started letting them run and I get home about an hour after sundown. I put lights on a timer in the pen so they find their way back now. Before they just climbed up on the woodpile. Anything could have got them there.

I thought it was possible that one of the others just started laying and had a nest outside somewhere. I suppose I could watch tomorrow when I let them out, or leave them in for a few days.

 

[r4eboxer]

Glad you found her, or she found you

It's kind of eggciting though. I'd be on an egg scavenger hunt. Keep us posted

 

[Shireshome]

Try looking for eggs under the firewood pile. They lay in the oddest places but typically they don't lay far from where they spend most of their time.

 

[Gersbud]

I had a chicken that would hid to lay her egg. One day I just watched her and finally found her nest. She had a nest in the middle of a blackberry patch. LOL She had at least 8 eggs in there. Once I got the eggs and a few scratches she stopped going in there. But I still watch her. she does not like to lay her eggs in the coop. IDK Y but oh well. They really do lay in odd places, and usually places that you would never think of too.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Glad you found her.

 

[Wile E.]

Still have not found her nest. I got two eggs in the coop on each of the last two days. So I know that 2 of the 4 hens are laying. I can't tell the hens apart. I let them out after getting two eggs thinking the problem was solved, and one was still disappearing. I saw her take off, and I thought well I already got her egg. After she was gone half an hour I realized she might still be sneaking off and that there are 3 hens laying. So I looked in the direction she went. Never found her or the nest. I know the general direction she went but no dice.

I will keep them in till the weekend and see if I can't break the habit.

I guess this is in the wrong forum, as it is not predator related, as I first assumed.