Will my chickens come back??

[Johnsonchicks]

We just got home after running some errands to find our two missing hens perched on the ladder next to the coop. They seem to be fine though they are missing some tail feathers. Thank you for all of your posts of support and ideas. I think the signs on the doors as a reminder that the chickens are out is a great idea. We will also start training the dog to be around the chickens. Thanks again.

 

[Lunachick]

Great news that your chickens came back! Please be careful...

 

[TashaLuv]

I hope so I'm having a rough day ? got into my ckn run either late last night or early this AM & hubby came in & said 5 of our 6 were killed but 1 was still ok despite the damage to a few spots & the one hen snuck through one of the spots & she's Gone we looked all over & can't find her & all this after a cat friend was killed a few day's ago so I'm more than a lil bummed & ? killed all those hens it didn't eat them & put 4 of them in a row near there house & we didn't even have them for 1 year yet but we got lots of eggs not sure if we made even between the feed & supplies & they were my ckn friends & now I feel bad we didn't keep them safer & hope last one comes home.

 

[Maddeyhartz18]

So I was letting my chickens walk a little out side the coop then my dog come and scares one of the 5 chickens we have. That one chicken ran in the woods and the chickens are only like three week old. Will the chick come back??

 

[Maddeyhartz18]

What if they are chicks?? Three week chicks will they come back??

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I hope so I'm having a rough day ? got into my ckn run either late last night or early this AM & hubby came in & said 5 of our 6 were killed but 1 was still ok despite the damage to a few spots & the one hen snuck through one of the spots & she's Gone we looked all over & can't find her & all this after a cat friend was killed a few day's ago so I'm more than a lil bummed & ? killed all those hens it didn't eat them & put 4 of them in a row near there house & we didn't even have them for 1 year yet but we got lots of eggs not sure if we made even between the feed & supplies & they were my ckn friends & now I feel bad we didn't keep them safer & hope last one comes home.

Dogs kill chickens and don't eat them sometimes. Sorry for your losses

So I was letting my chickens walk a little out side the coop then my dog come and scares one of the 5 chickens we have. That one chicken ran in the woods and the chickens are only like three week old. Will the chick come back??

How long have you been letting them out? I would be looking for it and listening for it to call out for it's flock mates.

I don't let my chicks free range until they are homed to their coop/run. In other words, they know that is where their safety is.

 

[bubbles22]

My buff orpington chicken (about 2.5 months old) somehow got out last night with my two other chickens. This morning, only those other two were there, and the buff orpington is nowhere to be found, and I am very distraught.

How long do you think it would take her maximum to get back home before I would just have to declare her dead?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

My buff orpington chicken (about 2.5 months old) somehow got out last night with my two other chickens. This morning, only those other two were there, and the buff orpington is nowhere to be found, and I am very distraught.

How long do you think it would take her maximum to get back home before I would just have to declare her dead?

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Many people have thought their hens were dead only to have them show up 3 weeks later with a clutch of chicks!

However, why did they get out? was it in the middle of the night? Chickens don't usually roam after they have gone to roost because they can't see well in the dark. So if they were evading a predator, that may be different. Were they used to free ranging? Have you checked your property for any signs of an attack?

I have a BO as well and they are good girls. Hopefully she is just being slow about coming back. Do you know what kind of predators you have?

 

[bubbles22]

Thanks for the quick reply! I don't have any roosters, and she isn't even laying eggs yet so the clutch of chicks seems unlikely

They got out via my mistake, somehow the door wasn't locked tightly so they were able to get out, but you're right, it probably happened early this morning.
They don't free range a lot, sometimes if I'm around to watch them I will let them free range a little, but mostly they are in the run all day and then in the coop at night.
I found one feather outside their run area, but no other signs that would indicate an attack, and if they were in a group, the other two definitely look perfectly fine.
I'm not 100% sure what predators I have in this area, and I'm really quite new to owning chickens--I've never seen any potential predators in my backyard or neighborhood, but I've seen foxes other places in my town and I live next to a small strip of forest that could house other animals I've not seen yet.

Thanks again for your help, I will let you know what happens! For now I left some food and water out, hopefully if she is okay she will get hungry or thirsty and come back!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Well, I guess I am a little silly... I did see you said only 10 weeks old.

They usually try to stay with their group. When they are scared they might stay silent while you are right next to them hiding in deep grass or a bush. But often you can hear their distressed calls looking for their flock. She will likely come back if she is able.

Chances are if you have fox, you have a lot of other predators that you haven't seen. Just so you are aware, to name a few..... Skunk, raccoon, fox, coyote, hawk, neighborhood dogs, mountain lion, weasels, minks, ferrets and many others. Most of them you will never see.

Here's to hoping she makes it back safely!