Chicken thief on the loose in Nassau County?

Not a chicken, but one of Peterson's Roosters. Photo courtesy of Sandra Baker Hinton

Information obtained from

Two Isa Brown Hens, and 4 Rhode Island Reds are missing, and were possibly stolen Halloween morning from Michele McMurray Peterson's chicken barn on Palm Circle near Old Nassauville Road. According to the case report filed with the Nassau County Sheriff's Office, the chickens, stay close to the house and "would not just walk off,"

Peterson who secures the chicken barn with a carabiner to prevent "varmints" from entering the barn found the carabiner off the latch and thrown to the ground. There were no signs that the chickens were attacked by an animal.

The responding deputy was unable to obtain fingerprints from the barn due to wet and abrasive surfaces.

A neighbor said she was awakened at 1:30 in the morning because of noise on her property. She did not see anyone but heard voices coming from the chicken barn area although they could also have come from an intersection down the road.

The Isa Brown Hens are valued at $20 each, and the Rhode Island Red Hens are valued at $40 each.

Michele Peterson operates Ladybug Gourmet selling  jams, jellies, pie fillings, curds, and more at the Downtown Fernandina  Farmers' Market.

If you have information, Michele Peterson would appreciate the safe return of her chickens.