Post by Lannie on Jul 15, 2008 13:56:46 GMT -5
But that's no surprise to anyone, is it?
I had posted on Mitra's fox thread that one of my missing hens was back yesterday morning, and she stayed by the house all day until sundown when she went and got in the coop with everyone else. I counted heads and should have had 16, but NOOOOO. There were still only 15. So now ANOTHER one is missing. I just don't get this... I searched and searched yesterday for any sign of carnage (broken eggs, dead chick parts) that would indicate what might have become of the broody hen's clutch, and I found nothing. I know this hen was the first one to go missing, because the last one was only 4 or 5 days ago, and the one that came back yesterday was ravenously hungry, so I'm guessing she's the one that's been gone for almost a month. But where are her chicks? Or the eggs? We have three mature roosters and all the hens, even little Bridget now, are missing feathers on their backs, so I know they're all being bred. At least some should have hatched, and a week ago at that. If something got her eggs before they hatched, shouldn't she have come back last week (or whenever the eggs were destroyed)?
I like logical explanations, not mysteries! This is starting to keep me awake at night, trying to figure out what the heck is going on.
The second one to go missing was Spot, and if she's sitting on eggs they should be hatching around now. The third one to go missing did so just a few days ago, and now I think a fourth one went yesterday sometime, but I can't be sure of anything anymore! LOL! I'm going crazy!
About the only thing I'm sure of is that my last guinea hen is still sitting on HER eggs out in the ditch in front of the house. I check on her a couple of times a day. Two more weeks until hers hatch. I'm just hoping some of her babies manage to survive.
~Lannie
I had posted on Mitra's fox thread that one of my missing hens was back yesterday morning, and she stayed by the house all day until sundown when she went and got in the coop with everyone else. I counted heads and should have had 16, but NOOOOO. There were still only 15. So now ANOTHER one is missing. I just don't get this... I searched and searched yesterday for any sign of carnage (broken eggs, dead chick parts) that would indicate what might have become of the broody hen's clutch, and I found nothing. I know this hen was the first one to go missing, because the last one was only 4 or 5 days ago, and the one that came back yesterday was ravenously hungry, so I'm guessing she's the one that's been gone for almost a month. But where are her chicks? Or the eggs? We have three mature roosters and all the hens, even little Bridget now, are missing feathers on their backs, so I know they're all being bred. At least some should have hatched, and a week ago at that. If something got her eggs before they hatched, shouldn't she have come back last week (or whenever the eggs were destroyed)?
I like logical explanations, not mysteries! This is starting to keep me awake at night, trying to figure out what the heck is going on.
The second one to go missing was Spot, and if she's sitting on eggs they should be hatching around now. The third one to go missing did so just a few days ago, and now I think a fourth one went yesterday sometime, but I can't be sure of anything anymore! LOL! I'm going crazy!
About the only thing I'm sure of is that my last guinea hen is still sitting on HER eggs out in the ditch in front of the house. I check on her a couple of times a day. Two more weeks until hers hatch. I'm just hoping some of her babies manage to survive.
~Lannie