[Bionic]

I have one chicken that has decided she doesn't want to spend the night in the coop any more. She then disappeared so I thought the fox had got her.


A couple of days later she turned up again and thats how its been for the last couple of weeks.


Missing for a couple of days and then appearing. I have tried stalking her to find out where she is going but she seems to disappear without me noticing.


Very strange behaviour. Any suggestions?

[Anke]

Has she got a secret love affair with the cockerel down the road? Maybe she has too make sure his current wifes don't find out about her.... 

Very strange - can you "tag" her like they do with young offenders? 

[Kimbo]

Brooding a nest somewhere.
When one of my Cream Legbars did this a few months ago I eventually found her in 4ft high nettles sitting on 17 eggs!

[Caroline1]

Ooh chicken adventures!!

I have one that keeps escaping but every time I go into the yard she comes running towards me. (I am the source of food and have taught them to come running when they see me, very handy )

[devonlady]

I would say too that she has stolen a nest somewhere, the beggar!! It's either find her nest and put the eggs in an incubator (tricky as you won't know when to stop turning) try putting her and her eggs in a safe place (she may sit on them but equally may not!) or leave her alone and hope she comes homes, like Bo Peep!!
I think I would opt for the latter choice, a sitting hen has almost no scent so, hopefully won't be  got by foxy. Tricky!!

[Bionic]

Well, if she is sitting they won't hatch as we don't have a cockerel and there aren't any other chickens close by but now that it has been mentioned it does seem like broody habits.


I will continue to keep watch and hope I spot her hiding somewhere

[adamhfc]

She's maybe met a foreigner (pheasant) lol

[Kimbo]

Bionic, we didnt have a cockerel either. Made no difference to my CLB! Silly bird

[MarthaR]

This happened to me and I also thought she had gone off lay. Then I was cleaning out the recently vacated pig ark and I found two weeks worth of her eggs  She's now back in the usual routine!

[Bionic]

I'm gonna have to look in every nook and cranny then

[Jukes Mum]

We recently had two wander off to brood. Looked everywhere for them but no luck. Think Mr Fox must have had them :-(

[Bionic]

Just seen her from the window this morning. Went outside and she has gone. Foiled again

[chrismahon]

Our neighbour had one. Eventually found her nesting in a roll of electrical cable -sitting on 23 infertile eggs and looking very pale.

[Penninehillbilly]

could you feed/fasten her in a pen for an 30mins or so, let her out and then watch where she goes?

[Kimbo]

we could have a little wager as to how many eggs Bionic finds under her hen when she eventually tracks her down 

I'll say 9