Updated: Missing Chicken Who Had Hitched A Ride To EB Found

GROTON, CT — When the Rhode Island Red-looking chicken was last seen it was in an Electric Boat parking lot.

On Facebook, a woman wrote that one of her chickens hitched a ride on her boyfriend's truck and ended up in the EB parking lot. Things took a dark turn when a person saw her post and noted that they'd seen a woman chasing a chicken with a baseball bat. "That was probably my chicken!"

One-year-old Thelma is one of 13 laying hens. They and six ducks live with their humans Rachael Rowley-Aquitante and Ryan McGowan in Voluntown.

An unusual story and so far, sans a happy ending.

Rowley-Aquitante said she just wants to get Thelma "home to her sisters."

Here's what she posted on Facebook early Tuesday:

"I know this is a long shot but we believe 1 of our chickens hitched a ride on Ryan’s truck to EB. Ryan saw the chicken Sunday in the EB parking lot but was unable to catch it. If any one has seen or caught the chicken can you let us know so we can possibly get it back !! I understand it may not have made it through the night but just maybe she’s hanging out with some one else’s chickens !! I called animal control and they don’t have her but will let me know if some one calls !!!! She looks like a Rhode Island Red!"

One of the comments stood out. And not in a good way.

A person shared a screenshot of another post where a person describes an incident they witnessed with a chicken, albeit near Whittle's in Mystic. Not sure how far a chicken can travel, but anyway, here's what they said: "Driving back home by Whittle's today we saw the strangest site. Car parked in the road. Women climbing up in the bushes on the side of the road. Second woman was chasing a chicken with a baseball bat. We stopped to turn around and get a picture but everything was settled down."

That was Monday at around 5.

Then a break!

A man found the chicken in the EB parking lot, even took a video with it, but did not know what to do with the bird so left it by a tree. It flew the coop.

Update: Rowley-Aquitante contacted Patch Wednesday afternoon to say Thelma is safe and sound and will be on her way home Thursday.