How DID I do it? Recipe for disaster!

[Suechooks]

Arrived at the allotment this morning as usual. Could hear the girls bokking also as usual except......... it just sounded a bit louder than normal Thought I must have left the pophole open - no problem as the run is fully enclosed and hopefully fox-proof. But the pophole was shut!
Went to open the run gate ready to put feeders in and there sitting on top of a bucket in front of the hut was one of my young Warrens! How I'd missed her at bedtime I really don't know as the area she was sitting in is only 6' x 6'! I always count them in to the hut so she must have come out as I closed the door but it will forever be a mystery.
I still feel sick thinking about it because she was completely unprotected from the fox who has been about digging on another plot trying to get under the wire. I do have electric fencing on but there are weak spots for a determined fox - over the top of the hut for starters!
I think they'll all have to be bar-coded and go through a scanner before bed-time!
What a bad chooky mum I am!

[Flummery]

Don't feel bad about it - a genuine mistake with no bad consequences. You do go cold thinking of what might have happened but hey, it didn't! Life's too short.

[Nicos]

Ah well... we've all done it ( well- not me personally -yet- t'was my OH)
...I had a brill time making him feel guilty for days and days!!!

[HayleyB]

When you've got 36 and they have a million places to hide it happens occasionally

[matthew2riches]

I've done it when I had them on the lottie. I don't think they minded too much..... :-)

[MaureenHall]

When you've got 36 and they have a million places to hide it happens occasionally

And when you've got 42 it happens too! One of my girls got missed one night last week and it wasn't until I went to open all the pop holes and doors next morning that I noticed her standing under the feed-shelter waiting for breakfast Don't feel bad about it, just double check every night (that's what I'm doing!!) from now on

[HayleyB]

And when you've got 42 it happens too! One of my girls got missed one night last week and it wasn't until I went to open all the pop holes and doors next morning that I noticed her standing under the feed-shelter waiting for breakfast Don't feel bad about it, just double check every night (that's what I'm doing!!) from now on

FORTY TWO most I've had is 41... New Year's resolution... New chooks

[Glutton4...]

FORTY TWO most I've had is 41... New Year's resolution... New chooks

Yup - me too! I've copied you and cleared out a stable

[HayleyB]

C'mon then G4, when... how many... what breeds... ????????

[Suechooks]

And tonight I let them out of the run into the little enclosed area in front of the hut for a grain or two of corn before bed and the same one flew out and on to the allotment to collect her own supper! A ball and chain tomorrow!

[Glutton4...]

Cheeky little beggar - Clipping one wing should stop her, Sue!

As for what and when, Hayley, I haven't decided No ex-Batts due around here for ages, and funds are limited. I don't really want to go down the egg-hatching route, especially not this time of year, but out of 18 Chooks I'm getting an average of 6 eggs a day - and my customers are complaining at being rationed

[HayleyB]

I've found another source nearby that 'do' Black Copper Marans