Vanished bird

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chickenfan

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I have lost Apricot, my Pekin who I've recently returned to the flock after her chick brooding (chicks almost full grown at 9 weeks and she was back in lay, although not keen to leave her brood). I had put her with another Pekin she knows right next to the house 6 days ago. She couldn't have escaped from the garden and there are no feathers in any of the other birds' areas if she accidentally got in one of those and was attacked. Could she have been taken by a bird of prey? I've looked everywhere for her, including all the neighbours gardens. If a fox had somehow got in, would it have left a trace?
 
Whilst a predator is a possibility Chickenfan, my inclination would be towards theft. How secure are your premises against two legged predators? You would normally find some trace of a struggle otherwise, even if just a few feathers.
 
Fox would leave a trace though if it was a particularly windy day it needn't be that much, I lost a Pekin to fox attack a couple of years ago and there was a small circular patch of blue feathers and that was it, given I had disturbed the Fox while it was taking a second bird this was no more than a few minutes after the kill so in theory if it had been a windy day and I had come back that evening there wouldn't have been too much to find, with a bird of prey this would be even less if it carried your bird away, of course it would have to be one of the larger species as most kill and then eat their prey on the ground leaving quite a mess. What Chris says is also possible though the only question I would ask is if you are going to go to the trouble of stealing one Pekin why would you leave the others?.
 
And if you wanted to steal any of them, wouldn't you wait until after dusk when they were roosting and quiet, and there was less chance of anyone seeing you?
Could she possibly have started to go broody again, and have found a really good place to make a hidden nest?
I do hope you find her - or even traces of her - not knowing what happened is very frustrating.
 
Thank you Chris, Dinosaw and Marigold for your thoughts. I wonder if she was stolen. I was puzzled that I had a parcel delivery into my back garden, even though it said 'leave in porch if out', so someone did come into what is a very private rear garden, and I've recently had egg money stolen. I agree it would be strange to take just one, and anyone would need something to put her in, but not everyone realises chickens are sociable. Its strange how you can't quite relax when you don't know what has happened to a bird. I keep racking my brain. Could a rat have taken something as large as a Pekin? Perhaps she didn't go into the house overnight without my noticing. I don't think she is broody as she would need to come out to eat and drink, and I've gone through every shrub and plant searching for her.

I will put up a 'lost bird' sign in the Post Office.
 
Apricot has reappeared this morning, walking very slowly. I wonder if she got injured and went into hiding. She could perhaps have been bullied by a broody bantam. Very glad to have her back and she is now eating and resting in a cat box in my kitchen.
 
Thank you Marigold. She might be broody again as you thought, as she has made herself a nest in the cat box.
 
Great news Chickenfan, nice to see a happy ending.
 
Thankyou Dinosaw! I'm glad she is over whatever happened. She is not quite right but seems rather dazed and has just sat all day, occasionally with her mouth open. She's not broody as she's pooping normally and not behaving broodily. I hope the rest puts her right.
 
Dazed with her mouth open says she is in shock Chickenfan. Hopefully when she has rested for a day she will be OK. Guess whatever happened to her will remain a mystery? Pleased she is back though.
 
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