Monday 3 May 2010

Bye bye Beryl?



















It seems that we have lost Beryl, our Speckledy hen, leaving us with just one hen, Edwina - who is looking rather sad and lonely.
Chickens will always return to their house to roost at dusk, so normally both hens are waiting for me when I go out to give them some corn as dusk approaches. On Thursday Beryl was unusually nowhere to be seen, but after a few minutes of calling and corn-box rattling, she appeared from the next-door garden. But on Friday evening she simply didn't appear at all and has not been seen since.
It is possible she's been taken by a fox - Edwina had an extremely lucky escape from the very jaws of a fox last summer, but I haven't seen any foxes at all this year. It has also occurrred to me that Beryl had not been laying any eggs in the nestbox for a couple of weeks before she disappeared - she may have laid a clutch of eggs under a bush or hedge somewhere and be broodily sitting on them. The problem with this is that they will never hatch and she is quite capable of not coming off the nest to eat or drink. I'm not certain, but I think she could end up dying of thirst or starvation. We've looked everywhere we can think of in our garden and next door, but no sign. So I think it may be "Bye bye Beryl", even though I still hope maybe it's only "Au Revoir"...

5 comments:

  1. She might have gone even further than next door. My inlaws once took in a rooster who appeared from nowhere, certainly not from anywhere close, and he lived with them for years. I hope she finds her way back!

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  2. oh my goodness, I do hope she returns - my fingers are crossed for you.

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  3. So sorry to hear about Beryl. I hope she goes back to you soon!

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  4. One of mine was sitting on a hidden clutch and we couldn't find her anywhere - in the end I tracked her down by getting up very early in the morning and watching where they drink - she was popping out to get water before I normally went out and I was able to follow her back to where the (very, very) old eggs were hidden. I think most hens will still make a dash for food and water at some point even if very broody - so don't worry too much about her starving herself to death..Good luck! :D

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  5. Thanks for your good wishes and reassurance everyone - no sign of her yet, but I will have a go at your idea, Mousy - thanks!

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