Where is Lacey

[Tennessee girl]

Ok guys I've got a story for ya.. I haven't slept and I'm going nuts. 2 days ago I decided to get rid of my 2 ameracauna roosters. A guy from a local up and coming hatchery gladly took them off my hands. While at my house he notices my silver laced wyandottes and freaked over them! I told him I got both from ideal poultry for around $3. He went on and on about how they were "true to breed"... ok, I don't really care they are my pets. So, he offers to buy them from me and i declined then he says he will trade me any chicken i want he has dozens of breeds. Again, I declined, I've had these girls since they were 2 days old. They are my loves. My FIRST chickens! No! so he moves on, super nice person gave me alot of info. The following day I got up and let them out and fed them a few treats, went to work, came home, went out to give treats and I notice I'm missing one... A silver laced wyandotte.....? Coincidence? I HAVE NEVER LOST A CHICKEN OR HAD ONE ATTACKED. Not saying its impossible but seems odd. I also have a large cane corso with a doggy door and I'm convinced that is what keeps predators at bay. So its all pretty ballsy if he came into my yard knowing she is there.. But he could of snatched her over the fence. I do have 2 broody hens right now, so maybe she flew over the fence and ran off somewhere? She's never flown over before shes a bigger girl but I have a barred rock and an ameracauna that go in and out of my fence. There's no blood, feathers or evidence of an attack. I don't believe a fox, raccoon or opossum would of grabbed her because my dog would of lost her crap!

 

[MrsMistyReal]

Hawk, eagle but to me buddy sounds pretty shady, do you know where he lives? If so go ingocnito & do a drive by.

 

[MrsMistyReal]

Also if you have buddy's # call him play it for what its worth say the birds are for sale & you'll drop them off, cause you want to see the living quarters,be sneaky I would

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Why not take both? Definitely an interesting dilemma...

Does she have a hidden nest? Broody is contagious! Watch for her to show up and eat quickly. I have experienced 2 separate disappearances with no other signs of distress among my flock. Both were hiding clutches of eggs and showed up mid day, depending on the weather. Can be a lot harder to see this stuff since you work.

I leave my dogs locked up and barking when people stop by so they know it' isn't open season at my house. I agree that would be pretty ballsy... but honestly, I'm not afraid of dogs and neither are a lot of other people. Though on their own property, I would be a little more leery as my dogs are much different behind the fence than outside of it. There are a lot of self serving jerks willing to take what they want. Hopefully this is just coincidence. I have met a lot of really good chicken folk but surely plenty are less than honest.

Hope she shows back up!

 

[Tennessee girl]

I'm really hoping it is a coincidence too. Great ideas Mrsmistyreal! I have his number but not address, I could call and buy some chickens from him. But he would likely hide her. IF he did it, I don't think he took my other girl because she has a flat comb and would be easily identifiable. If she is broody and hiding any suggestions on where to look? There aren't , many spots to hide. There's a field directly behind me I searched it all night last night but I could of missed her. The pic is her sister with the flat comb. I don't know if thats normal or not but the missing girl had a tall comb.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I'm really hoping it is a coincidence too. Great ideas Mrsmistyreal! I have his number but not address, I could call and buy some chickens from him. But he would likely hide her. IF he did it, I don't think he took my other girl because she has a flat comb and would be easily identifiable. If she is broody and hiding any suggestions on where to look? There aren't , many spots to hide. There's a field directly behind me I searched it all night last night but I could of missed her. The pic is her sister with the flat comb. I don't know if thats normal or not but the missing girl had a tall comb.

Then the missing girl is the one that is incorrect... if by tall you mean straight like a barred rock and not just pointed at the back.

I think straight comb is prettier, in Wyandotte anyways! Some Wyandotte breeders keep them in their flock because it is said.. to breed all rose comb in your flock is to breed out your fertility. Their have been quite a few of them at feed stores this past year, And I even got one. I was disappointed because I wanted the rose comb for the experience of it and to see it in person. So I researched and that was the end result.

I would THINK someone who allegedly loved the breed (on his part alleged, not yours).. that he would know that.

I hope she will turn up soon!

They are pretty good at hiding. I usually have to search at several different times of the day and use a flashlight to get a varied shade perspective. But I am looking deep inside Ivy and blackberry or other shrubbery. It's often easier to find an empty nest because the eggs catch the light. They can be 6 inches away from stepped on and not make a peep. Surprising how good camouflage they have sometimes. How tall is the field? Mine live tall grass, a couple feet or taller. How big is your place? Is the field easy access? Any sheds or spaces between buildings? Do you know if she usually lays in a box? Or would you know if she wasn't by your egg count?

 

[Tennessee girl]

I found her, she has passed away. She flew over my fence and got into the neighbors yard. They have pretty vicious dogs and well it didn't end well. I found her right outside of their fence 2 days later. Which pisses me off to no end. I checked that area multiple times, they just threw her over the fence like trash. I understand it is my fault my animal got into your yard but you know I am looking for her why would you just throw her over the fence for me to find? I just wish they would of said something, anything! I spent all that time searching and worrying sick. I know she was in their yard because the dogs have rutted out a line around their fence and they tried to fill it with clay mud.. she was covered in red clay mud. Its so odd that she got out of my fence and then proceeded to walk a good 10 feet to theirs and jump into their yard.. I don't know I've over thought it a billion times. We have since clipped all the wings and will hopefully not have any future problems.

 

[MrsMistyReal]

I found her, she has passed away. She flew over my fence and got into the neighbors yard. They have pretty vicious dogs and well it didn't end well. I found her right outside of their fence 2 days later. Which pisses me off to no end. I checked that area multiple times, they just threw her over the fence like trash. I understand it is my fault my animal got into your yard but you know I am looking for her why would you just throw her over the fence for me to find? I just wish they would of said something, anything! I spent all that time searching and worrying sick. I know she was in their yard because the dogs have rutted out a line around their fence and they tried to fill it with clay mud.. she was covered in red clay mud. Its so odd that she got out of my fence and then proceeded to walk a good 10 feet to theirs and jump into their yard.. I don't know I've over thought it a billion times. We have since clipped all the wings and will hopefully not have any future problems.

I'm so sorry for your loss,that's horrible something does sound suspicious, however they should have said something
Well I hope things get better once again my deepest condolences for your loss.