Yesterday one of our chickens discovered how to get out of the coop. I presume that it’s Dora, as she has a history of such behavior. It wasn’t such a big deal yesterday afternoon; when I went out to check on them and collect the eggs, she was wandering around outside the coop, ready for me to open the door and let her back in. Last night was a different story.

I was playing in my office about 11 last night, getting ready to go to bed, when I heard a loud scraping noise from outside, followed by a few moments of silence and then loud chicken squawking. I grabbed a flashlight and rushed outside, convinced that a raccoon was attacking the chickens. When I got out, the side door was open (open!) and there was only one chicken in the coop. A second chicken was sitting just outside so I was able to grab her and put her back inside with little resistance. The other? Nowhere to be seen. As I came out there was a loud rustling in the bushes behind the house — presumably her hiding from me — but when I explored there was nothing to be seen. I go to bed, about 25% convinced that a raccoon has gotten her and 75% convinced that she’d be fine…it’s not her first night out, after all.

This morning I expected to see her running around the backyard when I went out to feed the girls. She wasn’t there. The other two were still inside, so I fed them and poked around the backyard for a little while, again finding nothing. Now I think it’s about 40:60 raccoon:fine. I go back inside and continue getting ready to go to the lab when the doorbell rings. It’s our neighbor from diagonally across the street. Luna’s dad. He looks at me a little funny and says something like, “This is a strange question, but do you have a chicken? Because she’s in my front yard, freaking out my dog.” Poor Luna! I apologized profusely — this was about 7 in the morning and I know how loud the chicken can be when she gets her dander up — and we went to his house. Dora had moved to the driveway by this point, which is conveniently bordered by a chain link fence on two sides. While Luna’s dad helped to keep her from running, I managed to grab her and pick her up. I apologized again, thanked him for his help, then brought Dora back home.

Dora didn’t even fight me that much as we walked across the street and into the backyard. I had her supported pretty well, so maybe that’s the trick. She was bobbing her head, looking all around as we walked back to the coop. I got her closed up inside, then found some cinder blocks to place on the side where I think she can get under the chicken wire. It’s not the most aesthetic solution, but for 7 in the morning I think it’ll be sufficiently effective. I’ll see tonight, when I go home.