Gone Girl

[so lucky]

One of my two remaining black copper Marans didn't come home to the roost last evening. She has always been a little absent minded, and gets separated from her flock occasionally. I can't figure out what happened. I didn't hear anything. No tell-tale pile of feathers, no blood. I guess there's a possibility that she will come waltzing into the yard later today, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Nyboy]

Sorry hope she makes her way home.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’ve had that happen after a predator attack, some just stay hidden all night and show up the next morning. I’ve also had some to decide to just sleep somewhere else. That’s always been chickens pretty low in the pecking order that have been bullied on the roosts.

Then the one that I think is a real possibility. Is she broody?

I really hope she shows up later, even if it’s 21 days later. Good luck!!!

 

[journey11]

Sorry to hear it. I hope all ends well. I've found my chickens sleeping in weird places before such as under the deck or in my neighbor's barn. Sometimes they cross under the neighbor's gate and get stuck behind the fence, unable to figure out how to come back over. Hopefully there's a good explanation for her absence and she'll turn up.

 

[lesa]

Fingers crossed that she shows up... hopefully, she is just out on an adventure....

 

[ninnymary]

I have a hunch she will appear again. Hoping I'm right.

Mary

 

[Wishin']

A lot of the time when girls around here go missing it is because the have decided to go broody somewhere. Lets hope that is what she is doing

 

[dewdropsinwv]

I have a question...I have 3 lorps and every single one of them are loosing their feathers. It's so bad that they are totally bald on their bellies. Any idea what could cause this? My other chickens (not all of them) have bare behinds. If you need pics I will post them.

 

[so lucky]

Maybe they are molting. How old are they?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Mississippi State describes molting
http://msucares.com/poultry/management/poultry_feathers.html

Kansas State feather loss
http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/bookstore/pubs/MF2308.pdf

Here are a couple of good articles on molting and feather loss.

If I remember right you were providing lights. Did you recently turn them off? That may have shortened the daylight for them and started a molt. Is egg production holding up?

Also you might want to check for mites and lice. Check after dark for roost mites. They only come out after dark. Look in the vent area. They like that moisture. Don't be too slow since they will run away from your flashlight.

Feather loss is usually not a big deal. If the feather is totally gone it should grow back before too long. If the shaft is still there, it won't grow back before the next molt.