Hen disappeared

[seminolewind]

I don't know.  She was not there this morning.  There's no way out of her pen in the coop, it's enclosed.  She's a Houdan and not prone to run off She's also an airhead about running from harm. I thought I saw a white chicken up on a hill behind my house last night.  But it could have been a white cat.  And I opened the coop to count my white chickens whereas she's black and white. All the 3 white silkies were there.  If I left her out last night, I would have had to walk right by her to get to the little door. I would have noticed her and scooted her in.


I have searched a mile down the road behind the property x2.  Nothing.  I can't imagine her going any further than that.  In fact I would think a chicken who didn't make it into the coop would roost near the coop somewhere.


I hate to admit that she may have been snatched.  Her sister is very upset.

[seminolewind]

I would have to suspect a hawk. A coyote or fox would have had to wreck the fence to get in the little pen. So, yesterday when I locked their little door, I would have had to fall over her to get to the little door to lock it at night.. So it does not appear that she was left out overnight. There is 100% no way to get out of the coop from their pen inside the coop. So I think she had to have disappeared on the 30th during the day.

Bad things happen to free ranging birds. So that is going to change. It's always the sweet tame ones that get it first.

[dawg53]

Sorry for your loss. If it were a hawk, I'm sure there would be a pile of feathers laying around somewhere. I've had it happen with every hawk attack, even with small breeds.

[boskelli1571]

Sorry for your hen Not a good way to start the New Year

[maryellen]

Could she be stuck behind a wall ? Or behind nest boxes? Look in the coop behind cans, walls, with a flashlight. If something took her there should be feathers in the yard

[maryellen]

Look in the bushes, trees, behind the shed, under porch etc

[seminolewind]

I've looked everywhere. Around the coop inside and out, under the coop with a flashlight, then a broom handle. I drove up and down the road several times. It runs along the properties behind me.

[maryellen]

Is there anywhere by the house, barn or shed she could hide

[maryellen]

Any sign of her?

[seminolewind]

I have searched everywhere. I could search the clump of trees in the farmer's pasture. I could search under the coop again. Powell said one of our neighbors has a white cat.

I have not seen one hawk here anywhere. They can snatch and fly away quietly. A cat could snatch a chicken too I guess. I think I've cried enough now.

[maryellen]

im soo sorry

[seminolewind]

I rechecked everywhere. No hen. You can't tell me that chickens have no feelings because her sister of 5 years has been mopey the last 2 days.

[maryellen]

They definitely have feelings, mine have grieved the ones they were close to

[seminolewind]

I wonder if there is fox around here. Aside from hawks which I have not seen, a fox may take a chicken quietly away.

[maryellen]

Its very possible it was a fox

[seminolewind]

I'm going to catch the farmer or the "easement" neighbor and see if they can tell me what lurks around on this acreage. I'm sure the farmer knows a bunch.

[duckrunner]

Set up a trap. I've trapped a link before. nasty things

[duckrunner]

mink*

[seminolewind]

No mink that I know of. I may trap but I'd like to see some sign first. I wish it was warm enough to start that pen.