Bit worried...

[Nicos]

Ok...so all but Betty have settled themselves in for the night. Tis very cold and misty and getting dark...BUT...can't find Betty
This lunchtime she took herself round to the front of the house on her own and I had to shoo her back ( she wouldn't let me pick her up cos she was clearly worried about where she was.)
I've looked up and down the road and in all the herbaceous borders ( in case she's laying) and in the neighbours outhouses and garden.

So...what to do ??
We have 3 foxes in the field at the back of the house...do I close off the others and keep checking out for Betty or do I give her another 1/2 hr?
Is she likely to find her way back 'home'??? I've spent about 1/2 hr looking already

Advice please folks....

[FionaH]

Id give her a little while but after that you will have to protect the others from the foxes

[Nicos]

It's a bit cold to stand guard at the coop, but I will in a few minutes me thinks
She's always been the one to go off on her own ...come back Betty!

[vicky]

Can you rattle some corn around to attract her?

[Nicos]

Phew...all Ok - she's back!
I did go out with some raisins and a crinkly packet, but she'd already taken herself to bed!
( I did give her quite a few of them so she realised it's a good place to be- better than a foxes tummy eh?)
Talk about an innocent look on her face...I'm just getting over the kids coming in after dark!

I'm going to have to get a chook cam on a harness so I can follow where she gets to at this rate
Thanks for your support folks!

[FionaH]

Phew thanks goodness. What with Betty and lyndas chicks I cant cope ......off for a lie down

[Nicos]

Gardening forums are such hard work aren't they????

[vicky]

Gardening forums are such hard work aren't they????

I'm knackered after today's excitement! Glad she's ok Nicos!

[moggssue]

P'raps she went to wet the babies heads? (Lyndas babies that is o'corse!)>

[roitelet]

Realy glad she came back!!

You could try feeding them earlier, perhaps about 4pm. If they get used to that they will come back for food. The you could pen them up close to the house, that way they have time to be in before the curfew!!!

[MaureenHall]

Thank goodness the panic's over!! Poor you and poor Betty if she'd gone to sleep on her own somewhere, oooooooooo doesn't bear thinking about does it

[Nicos]

Realy glad she came back!!

You could try feeding them earlier, perhaps about 4pm. If they get used to that they will come back for food. The you could pen them up close to the house, that way they have time to be in before the curfew!!!

Will do that Roitelet!