We have got hay off the field below the one the hens are in. Its not often they venture that far, except the odd one or two. Last night my OH Rick pointed out one of the white hens and a brown one right down in the hay meadow. It was still light, so I assumed they would make their way up to the hen sheds. It was only when I was checking they were all in that I missed the white one. I searched the field, the farm track, and the track below the field - nothing.
Its either gone through the gate and onto the track, and a car has pushed it down the lane and it got lost (and then eaten by a fox) as this has happened a couple of times with our non animal loving townies who live out in the country and do not understand hens , or a fox came off the railway embankment, spotted the white hen and took it.
I know its a risk free ranging them, but as I have always said its a risk I am willing to take, and to date I have not lost many hens. Bit upset as that was a nice hen, and it was laying too ....most of the others are winding down now to start moulting!!!
Topic: Hen disappeared (Read 3900 times)
