[mdueal]

Went up to the allotment today as usual to check on the chickens - we have four random bantam hens and a cockerel that we rescued from a local rescue centre. I was so busy with the one that had gone broody and was busy protecting her eggs from me that it took a while to notice one was missing. The coop was totally intact - bolt across the door etc and no feathers about.
I looked everywhere for her - we had called her sage (to go with onion the white one and cinnamon and treacle the gold and black ones) and she was always the first out to investigate anything. Looked in all the little hidey holes she could have got to if she had wandered off somehow for hours but no sign.
When other half got home from work, he took the dog (little cocker spaniel) out to go through the hedgerows to try and find her, but he met another alotment holder. The guy had found the head of our chicken on his alotment and recognised it, so she must have been got by a fox.
We jst have no idea how it has happened - the others are all fine, the coop and run are intact with do digging/scratch marks round. We are thinking someone must have let her out as there is no lock on the bolts - she would have been the first one out to investigate.
I'm so glad it wasnt me who found her - I think i would feel way worse if i had seen her - would be imagining it in full colour detail. Poor sage!!

[GrannieAnnie]

Oh poor little thing.  I am so sorry for you!  Can't understand why anyone would let them out though!  do you get much trouble with intruders there??

[Trillium]

Definitely time for locks. We've had to put them on our racing pigeon coops - silly kids think they're being funny opening the doors.

[Viv]

So sorry to hear your sad news

[Jellyhead]

So Sorry

Big hugs from over here XX

[NormandyMary]

Its always a shock to lose one like that. You have my sincere condolences.

Maryx

[babe]

[mdueal]

Thanks everyone! The circle of life is continuing though the broody allotment hen was moved into a broody coop last night and we have put some silkie and sebright eggs under her which she appears to have accepted. Fingers crossed some will hatch so we get some good news!