Disappered!!

[domart]

Please can you help or advise i have 4 ex battery hens all happy and content laying regular and this morning there all out scrathing etc and my kids (as per usual) are out there with them they came in for some toast (the kids) and they ve gone back out and one is missing they have searched high and low in the garden which has 6 ft fencing around it - after they had a look around they checked our 10 foot which they went all up and down it and no sign this was only 5 minutes they were away from them !!!
This is at 9.30 am this morning are there any predators that would take such a large bird in broad daylight? there is supposedly no signs of feathers - the 2 of the other hens have stayed nearer the coop and popping in and out which is unusual for them this time of day

[Glutton4...]

It would be rare, but not totally unlikely, I guess. My fried in southern Spain used to have to keep an eye on her Terrier pup, as She was told that the Buzzards would try and take him!

[frias]

I live in an urban area and the foxes can often be seen trotting down the road in broad daylight. I noticed one the other day sat in someones gateway watching the traffic. I had to do a double take as at first I thought it was a dog. This was at 2pm in the afternoon. My son has a problem with them in his garden, they come over the fence and cross over another fence into the next door garden where the people feed them. It takes them less than a minute to get over both 6 ft fences.

[Flummery]

It does sound like they have had a predator visit - if the others are sticking near the coop door they have probably had a fright. Bad luck there. I can't be too far away from you - I am obsessive about keeping mine in the run unless I'm out with them - we have foxes everywhere too and our friends at the other end of the village have had hens taken in daylight.

[Polly Fouracre]

I hope your girl turns up, it may be she has had a fright and hidden herself. Sounds harsh but try to stir the others up a bit so she can hear them shouting, she will find her way back to them.
We also have "day shift" foxes around our fields, as bold as brass and twice as bright! These, I believe, are hand reared by the R.S.P.C.bloody A. and released into the countryside to eat my chickens.
It's time the R.S.P.C.A. was called to account over this. The countryside is over run with foxes, many of them with mange and dying a horrible lingering death, a sure sign that they are over-populated and as for trapping and releasing adult urban foxes into the countryside, well they need their heads examined!!
It makes me cross(as you can see!)

[polo]

Hope you find her - It's horrible not knowing isn't it?