The Case of the Missing Chicken

Last night, after a gorgeous day of free ranging, all the ladies put themselves to bed in their cozy coop, as per usual.

Shortly after dark, and a little later than usual, I made my way outside to count and lock up the ladies for the night.

They’re easy to count, despite their huddled roosting, because they come in sets:

• Two Buffs
• Two Black & Whites
• Two Marans
• Three Rusty Girls
• One Lavender Lily
• One Rooster

Usually it’s a quick count and I’m done, but this time was different.

This time there was only one Buff.

So I shined my light through the window they come and go from, looking around for the second Buff.

I checked in the corners of the run, in the busted up old brooder, and in the branches of the big shade tree.

Nothing.

So I did a sweep of the run before making my way into the coop to check again.

Nothing.

So into the coop I went, searching every corner, every nesting box.

I searched the floor, under the nesting boxes, behind the feed bins, in the turkey area, and up on various surfaces where she may have roosted instead of her normal spot right by her sister.

Nothing.

So back outside I went to see if she got caught by dusk and decided to take up a roost in a juniper or a tree or under something else somewhere in the yard.

I checked under cactus and sage, dried weeds and chamisa.

I walked all around the house, quiet as possible to listen for her little sleepy cluck.

Nothing.

I went into the greenhouse where Ashes the Cat has taken up temporary residence.

I went back into the chicken coop.

I walked under the Grandmother Tree.

I looked in the Orchard.

Nothing.

So I went inside and tapped out, asking Kim to go search as maybe a pair of fresh eyes would help.

I worried that Akuna snatched her.

I worried a coyote made it onto the property.

I worried she hurt herself.

Kim checked all the places I checked (including the coop and the run) and even expanded her search across the acequia into the second Orchard.

Nothing.

So we called it a night and crossed our fingers that she had stashed herself somewhere safe and would make it through the night.

We woke up this morning to heavy rains, driving winds, and frigid temperatures.

The rain shifted to snow shortly after the sun came up and huge white flakes blanketed everything in a fast and furious way we’re not used to here.

It was beautiful and terrifying all at once.

So Kim made her way outside to open the doors to the coop and the goat shed to give the animals the option of coming out if they wanted to (though none of them are fond of any kind of moisture) and lo and behold, there just so happened to be two Buffs in the coop when she opened the door.

In the coop.

She was in the coop the whole time.

Where she was hiding, I have no idea, because Kim and I both searched that room up and down multiple times, but she was in there somewhere.

Damn chicken.

I think she’s a ninja.

And, I’m grateful she’s OK.

xoxo,
M