Tips on finding missing chicken

[Cheekychook12]

One of my girls has gone missing while free ranging this morning, last seen a couple hours ago, no signs of predator attack, no feathers pulled or loud sounds, I was home the whole time
She’s slow moving and can’t really fly
Our place has spots where she could hide but I can’t see her
Any tips?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

See if she comes home at dark. How old is she? Does she lay eggs? Is she a breed prone to going broody? Maybe she has a hidden nest and will come back in a few weeks with a brood of chicks!

 

[CoopBoots]

I'm so sorry. Try playing the escort sound (the one they often make after laying to call their rooster or to find their group) on your phone or making it yourself. I'd be throwing treats and calling the flock too but I'm sure you've already done that... Aside from that, I'd be poking around in my bushes with a very big torch/flashlight and hoping she scrambles out.

 

[HappyHourHomestead]

I am sorry you can't find your hen.
I grew up having chickens on a farm, when I was kid/teenager we had over a 120 at one time. Normally when one of them would go missing and wouldn't be wandering around the chicken area the next morning when we got up, we knew what happened, sadly. Sometimes you don't hear anything and there will not be feathers. It's common with free range chickens. There is a chance she is up in a tree somewhere or something like that.
I would not worry right now, but if she is not there in the morning then I would start looking for her.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Do you normally offer treats in the afternoon or evening? Have you tried shaking the treat bucket and calling?

 

[Cheekychook12]

It’s all good everyone, she was indeed in a hidden nesting spot with an egg
It’s been really hot outside and I was worried she’d over heat
I found her in a bag of pea straw which she had made a nest
If I had a adult rooster and it wasn’t the middle of summer I might let her brood eggs, not this time though

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Buff Orp?

 

[Slothinc]

Oh that’s too cute that she made a nest in the bag!! So glad you found her and she’s safe

 

[mrskenmore]

Agreed! Glad it's a happy ending to the story!! She is cute!

 

[Cheekychook12]

Buff Orp?

She’s a lavender Pekin