[Lindeggs]

Hello everyone, it has been ages since I was last here!  I've often thought of you lot on this friendly forum, and decided it is about time I popped in to tell my old friends I'm still alive and kicking, and to meet some new friends too! 

When I was last here I lived in the city of Auckland (1.3 million people, expensive housing, congestion problems... you know the kind of place).  But in July my lovely man and I moved to the small town of Kerikeri (approx 4000 people, subtropical climate, everyone knows everyone...)  We've never been happier!

Of course our lovely chickens thought they had arrived in paradise.  They have just over an acre of pasture to run around, a creek with some friendly ducks, and an idyllic lifestyle. 

Unfortunately last week while I was out my entire little flock of hens disappeared!  No sign of feathers or predators... just gone!    I'm still in shock.  I've had my lovely girls for almost two years and they were the friendliest, sweetest hens you can imagine.

Anyway here I am back amongst friends and looking forward to reading all about your girls and their antics while I come to terms with my loss.

[joyfull]

First of all welcome back Lindeggs, glad my emails reached you and that you have come back xx

Sorry to hear about your birds being lost - what predators do you have there? Whatever it is knows that you are now a provider of a tasty meal so when you do re-stock you will have to find a secure way of keeping them safe - unless of course they have all gone on vacation in that paradise of yours and return in the very near future - I have a few that disappear for weeks on end when they are broody. Fingers crossed it is the latter scenario xx

[Springlands]

Hi Lindeggs - lovely to see you again - we have missed you here on the forum. Sorry to hear about your chickens - hopefully Joyfull is right and they will come back. If not I am sure that someday you will get some more really friendly ones again. 

[mumofstig]

It does seem strange that they've gone with no signs of being taken, so hopefully they've just gone walkabout for a while.

[arugula]

Welcome back Lindeggs, I thought I saw you around earlier. I hope your birds do come back, that sounds most odd. 

[compostqueen]

It is odd as you don't have foxes there do you?  Perhaps someone rustled them

[joyfull]

my thoughts exactly CQ.
I have just had a peek at this website (no doubt you are familiar with it Lindeggs) and the only natural predators are hawks gulls and rats. In any of those situations then you would expect feathers. Even if a local dog had been around there would have been feathers and dead birds.

[ANHBUC]

Nice to have you back Lindeggs.  Sorry to hear about your hens, it does sound like a 2 leg predator.  I hope that you manage to restock and have the enjoyment of hens again soon.   

[nerdle]

Kerikeri sounds wonderful.