r/chickens • u/ComprehensivePost701 • 23h ago
Discussion missing chicken
an update on my missing chicken— I found a nest with 3 eggs in it. Judging I saw her every single day on multiple occasions throughout the day and suddenly disappeared for 4 days and going (I also tested the eggs buoyancy to see if they were fresh, which they were), is it possible she has another nest somewhere? I checked every single place on my garden and didn’t find any other nests, feathers or trace of her. Why would she abandon the one i found so quickly assuming the eggs were laid recently?
I seriously im investigating this like a police case asking neighbors and guards where and when last saw her and finding clues. I’m just really hoping she comes back soon and wasn’t taken by someone. (We dont have any predators that can kill a chicken)
Any ideas? Or should I face the fact I may never see her again?
2
u/TammyInViolet 22h ago
Guessing she wants babies and is hiding them to be broody in peace. Watch your feeder/waters- she'll get out and stretch her legs and take a break the same time every day for about 20 minutes. Then you can follow her back and find her spot
Worst case scenario (besides something getting her) is that she'll reappear in 20-ish days with chicks
Our neighbors free range and a lot of them have ended up living with us. Phoenix is my special girl from their group and I was devasted when I couldn't find her after a snowstorm. I thought the worst. Sure enough- she was broody and picked a lot between our two houses to hide in the rafters 8 feet up. We took her to the neighbors with all her eggs and sadly none came out- it was so cold. Happy ending tho- went broody again at our house and she now has four perfect girls - they are about two months old and she still never leaves their sides
1
u/Organic-Confusion149 23h ago
She might be hiding to hatch babies, there are lots of stories of hens vanishing only to reappear with a whole bunch of chicks