[northfifeduckling]

Head count tonight at bedtime, 2 chickens short. one we found on the highest window sill, the youngest, only 14 weeks old is gone. they sat all day just near the house on a wood pile as it was so cold.  I can't believe it, am so upset. No blood in the snow or any sign of struggle. All that was odd was that the ducks were in bed really early and 2 of the hens and cockerel still out, should have done the head count then, whatever difference that would have made...

[tazbabe]

aw, sorry to hear that.

happened to one of mine earlier this year, just vanished into thin air, poor thing.

[OhLaLa]

Fox does come out in the day, and now the weather has turned food is harder to find. If he has had her, you can be sure he will be back for his easy pickings, so be extra vigilant.

Lets hope she turns up tomorrow.

[northfifeduckling]

There were no strange footprints anywhere, my feeling is either an owl or hawk as they were out later than usual. I normally hear the foxes barking during the day across the road before they have a go at a visit. Will have a good look around tomorrow, maybe we can see whatever if there is not any more snow coming overnight:chook:

[OhLaLa]

Certainly sounds like something has given them a fright. Could be fox, or even a dog.

Lets hope she has gone to ground and appears tomorrow. If you can, get up early - as if she is out and about she stands more chance of being taken early tomorrow morning when she reappears. Just nip out and take a look at her usual places, if you find her you'll be glad you did, and you can put her somewhere safe until a decent 'get up' hour.

In the past my birds have been lost to fox during the day, and just the once I lost chicks to a stoat.

Not sure if an owl would take, I don't think they hunt anything that large, keeping to nothing larger than voles, mice and the like.

Let us know how you get on.

Best wishes.

[dyedinthewool]

So sorry to hear you've 'maybe' lost one of your chicks

Might have been a buzzard or kite - we've had them around to-day - not had any chooks taken as yet... Mine are 15 weeks old.

there was a big dog fox going through the paddock the other lunch time, luckily my big orpingtons were not free ranging they were still penned.  Their pen is 5' high pheasant netting with 3' high chicken wire at the bottom and 2 strands of Electric wire at 9" and 18".

Hopefully your little one will turn up tomorrow safe and sound.

[Fleecewife]

Don't know if you have snow lying, but we find that when there is the younger birds get a bit confused and don't go to bed as early as usual.  In fact i have to round them up and chase them in.  So I'm just wondering if your hen has stayed out too late then snuggled down somewhere once she realised it had got dark and she wasn't in.  Hope she's ok.  Hope it's not as cold as here - minus 9 at 2100, bound to get colder before dawn.

[faith0504]

will keep fingers crossed for you 

[Sandy]

She may be in hiding, hope so, fingers crossed, I would be sad too if I lost one of mine!!

[bigchicken]

Whats the latest news has she turned up ?

[northfifeduckling]

Thanks all, she did show up in the morning! When  I did the ducks an hour after I fed the chickens she appeared out of nowhere at the feeder. I had spent the early morning in the blizzard with lightning looking all over the hedges and in all nooks and crannies - I'm so relieved. In this kind of weather they will not roam free in the garden any more! We had no power for a few hours today or I would have been here earlier! 

[dyedinthewool]

Thank goodness for that. All well that ends well.

You'll both get a goodnights sleep tonight

Hope the weather improves - wev'e got lying snow thats frozen, it's verycold and slippy.

[Sandy]

Thank goodness, i had a feeling she was OK!!!!

[OhLaLa]

A happy ending. So glad. Thanks for letting us know.

 

[Fleecewife]

Oh that is good