Looking for advice on one of my lovely hens. We’ve had 5 of them for over a year and on Thursday one of them went missing in the afternoon. None of the others seemed the least bit concerned but I assumed the worst.
She reappeared today- LAZARUS! We were delighted but she seemed “off”- feathers puffed up but missing some and looking a bit bald up the inner parts of her wings, making very odd screechy noises and just behaving strangely. I thought she might be broody? I also wondered if she might have paid a visit to the cockerel who roams in the garden two doors up.
Anyway she seemed to spend a good bit of time patrolling along the fence trying to find a way out and then managed to bolt out when my DD opened the gate to the enclosure. She pelted up towards the front garden and out of sight (we have a few acres).
No sign of her anywhere!
Can anyone more experienced please give me any ray of hope?! Does that sound like broody behaviour? What are the chances of her having set up a nest for herself somewhere in the undergrowth?
How far away is that nest likely to be?
How likely is she to end up as fox food if we can’t find her with or without her nest?
And when might she come to her senses and return?
Any advice or pearls of wisdom gratefully received. Poor Maisie😥