Where is she going?

[Ginger Dempsey]

I have 6 hens and one Rooster that have their own coop with nesting boxes and a fenced enclosure. We also have 6 domestic turkeys that have a separate very large enclosure that is 14 X 20 x10' tall. For a month all was well, everyone free-ranged together and got along well except for an occasional chase when the rooster was harassing the largest gobbler, or the Rooster was trying to mount every hen. ( Important detail: The Rooster was the last one introduced to the flock.)
One week ago when I went to lock up everyone at night, all were accounted for except one Plymouth Rock hen. We assumed that she had been eaten in her free range activities. The next night we discovered we were missing another Plymouth. In an effort to identify the predator we kept everyone locked up the next day. When we went down to feed them, we discovered that the second bird we thought was missing had taken up residence with the turkeys. She ran out or the enclosure when we opened it, went straight to"her" laying box and laid an egg. After free ranging a while, she returned to the turkey enclosure at dusk and no amount of coaxing could convince her otherwise. This morning while I was at work I received a call from my husband, telling me the first hen that went missing was at home and eating. He believes that she has been laying eggs in the woods and sitting on them. HELP !! What do you think? Are they being harassed by the Rooster? Does the hen want to sit away from the coop because she knows I have been taking her eggs? Should I make the other hen leave the turkey pen? Or create a nesting box in there for her?

 

[AltonaAcres]

She is probably brooding. It is almost impossible to relocate a broody hen successfully. At this point, I would let nature take it's course, I never help my broodies out and they are always fine. Mine somehow managed to never get eaten by a predator!!

 

[TheOddOneOut]

1 roo, 6 hens...yeah, maybe get a few more.

 

[aart]

or the Rooster was trying to mount every hen. ( Important detail: The Rooster was the last one introduced to the flock.)

How long since the cock/erel was added?
How old, in months, are all the chickens?
The turkey buddy may be avoiding the cock/erel.
The woods hider may be brooding.

 

[Ginger Dempsey]

How long since the cock/erel was added?
How old, in months, are all the chickens?
The turkey buddy may be avoiding the cock/erel.
The woods hider may be brooding.

The rooster was added the first week in September. The chicken that moved in with the turkeys and the chicken that could be brooding is about 9 months old. We have three other chickens that are about 5 months old. He doesn't seem to bother them. He is more interested in the Plymouth. But all of the hens except for one seem to hate him.