What on earth is with this hen?!

[americana-chick]

Well last night i went outside to put up the chickens and do the daily head count and guess what.. I only counted 23 out of 24! I was freaking out and went all over the farm looking for her and kept going back into the coop to make sure i hadnt miss counted. I thought she must be dead, and then this morning still nothing so i thought for sure she is dead. well when i got back home from the city i went out back to just goof off and there she is with a few of the other hens as happy as can be. Why would she not even try to get back in the coop last night or even come back in the morning? HAs she gone broody somewhere else? I am lost on this one..

 

[usschicago1]

Maybe she running around with a stray rooster.

no but really im stumped too!

 

[americana-chick]

Quote:
Ha i had never thought about that before....

But there isnt any chickens for miles near my house.

I am hoping she has either gone broody or forgot to go in.. lol and that she does not try and stay out again tonight.

 

[HEChicken]

If she were broody, I would expect her to still be holed up on her nest, sitting on eggs, rather than out and about with the rest of the flock so....don't know! Hope she doesn't try it again tonight.

 

[americana-chick]

Quote:
But dont hens take breaks sometimes when broody? I had one hen who went broody and she took at least one break off of the nest everyday.

 

[25bengood2me]

Maybe she found a nice tree branch to roost on at night, and a compost pile

e to scratch in during the day? My hen is awfully independant.

Her tummy keeps her running back when I call.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I too had this happen. We lost our RIR, couldn't find her. I looked in the coop, my husband looked in the coop, we searched the run, outside the run, etc. I laid awake all night trying to figure out how to explain to my 6 year old that his chicken disappeared. I went out in the morning, and there she was. The same thing happened the next night, but I found her hiding spot this time. She was crammed in a framing member above the window. It was less than 4 inches wide. So, if all else fails, look UP!

 

[americana-chick]

Well the good new is she didnt try to run away tonight.. i wonder what was up last night?