BackYard Chickens

Advanced Search

BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Predators and Pests › What the heck is going on?

Recent Reviews

Barred Rock
Reviewed by techpeak

These birds have been the foundation of our flock. They have stood up to the arid Colorado weather here which means cold winters, hot summers and not much rain so no many plants or bugs. Very...

Full Review
Ancona
Reviewed by techpeak

Acquired these two girls from someone who wasn't supposed to have them in the city. They were still pullets. They lay one egg every other day between the two of them. Have not noted them to be...

Full Review
Partridge Plymouth Rock
Reviewed by heronz

I wasn't sure I'd like them but have found them to be attractive and friendly so far. Hardy robust little birds.

Full Review
Brabanter
Reviewed by mtmimi777

With several comments about finding it hard to obtain good quality Brabanters, has anyone purchased from Sandhill? Where have you found good quality stock? If our town changes it's regs, this is...

Full Review
Orpington (Buff)-319
Reviewed by marvun22

I like everything about it except how it looks right now. I know it lays decently. It is a great part of my great waterfowl flock.

Full Review

New Posts All Forums:Forum Nav:

What the heck is going on?

Subscribe Search This Thread

Start a New Thread

post #1 of 6

4/2/12 at 7:37am

Thread Starter

kneit099

Location: Hartford, WI
Joined: 3/2011
Posts: 47
offline

Select All Posts By This User

Saturday night we lost all but 3 of my grown birds, 3 Cubalaya(including my rooster ) and 20 of my Orphingtons, and 1 of my red stars.

So we cleaned out the coop and moved my 40 babies into the coop. No problems with the 3 remaining hens bothering the chicks.

Husband went up this am to let the grown girls out and 1/2 of my babies are missing and 3 are dead in the coop. The run was closed and there are no holes ANYWHERE and no way for a coon to get in or for the chicks to get out. Mind you they were in the coop all day Sunday with out any escaping, in fact we did a head count before bed and they were all there!

I have a broody mom in her nest box that hasn't been TOUCHED! All the birds are the top perch....safe and sound and not touched.

The crappiest part is there are NO signs of dead chicks anywhere on our land.

What gives? Anyone have ideas?

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

The Basics Of Raising Chickens - Raising Chickens 101

Poll: Why raise backyard chickens?

Why Join BackYard Chickens?

post #2 of 6

4/2/12 at 7:59am

chicmom
Dances with Chickens

Location: Strasburg Ohio
Joined: 2/2009
Posts: 7,797
offline

Select All Posts By This User

Maybe sprinkle some flour around the coop, or add a game cam, because something is going on. The flour may show you some tracks in the morning......

Proud owner of some nice show quality Buckeyes and Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks. I love gardening and being outdoors. I'm lucky to have a great family, and two cute dogs. I live out in the country on six wooded acres and it's just paradise! (Except the mortgage payment and bills, of course)

post #3 of 6

4/2/12 at 8:02am

Amy S

Location: Chicago, IL (west suburbs)
Joined: 3/2012
Posts: 122
offline

Select All Posts By This User

So sorry to hear this!!!

Can you post a photo of your run and coop? Sometimes it's easier for a new eye to find clues in these situations.

What type of closure do you have on your run and coop? Does your coop have a lock? What type of flooring does you coop have, and have you checked for holes in floor?

post #4 of 6

4/2/12 at 8:20am

Thread Starter

kneit099

Location: Hartford, WI
Joined: 3/2011
Posts: 47
offline

Select All Posts By This User

I will go get a picture for you all to see the coop/run.

Flooring at this time is the ground...but I checked all around and there is not a single hole anywhere...can't get a finger in anywhere.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amy S

So sorry to hear this!!!

Can you post a photo of your run and coop? Sometimes it's easier for a new eye to find clues in these situations.

What type of closure do you have on your run and coop? Does your coop have a lock? What type of flooring does you coop have, and have you checked for holes in floor?

post #5 of 6

4/2/12 at 9:03am

Amy S

Location: Chicago, IL (west suburbs)
Joined: 3/2012
Posts: 122
offline

Select All Posts By This User

I am new to these forums, and it seems like there are a lot of birds disappearing each day. I guess it's a busy time for predators, both human and non-human. Sheesh.

My coop and run is being built as we speak, and I cannot stress enough to the guys building it....the importance of staying ahead of predators! Of course, they think I am being silly...thinking that coons can open latches, weazels can slip through cracks, and people who steal babies near Easter.

I will keep my fingers crossed that you (and other) find out what happened...and hopefully get some (if not all) of your flocks back!

post #6 of 6

4/2/12 at 7:44pm

mazojoe

Location: Arena, WI
Joined: 3/2010
Posts: 293
offline

Select All Posts By This User

This is in no way judging, but there is something missing in this equation. The only animal that can slip in and carry out is a coon. I had the same thing happen to me last year and I looked and looked and looked for a hole and never found anything. Then one day when walking around the coop I noticed some buckets knocked over and an slick or grease spot way up in a corner....they were basically climbing an 8 foot wall straigh up on both sides and able to carry chickens out of that hole which was about the size of a minie basketball, but just tucked way up in a dark corner.

Looking forward to seeing the pics of the coop and run.

Joe

ps come join us over at the Wisconsin (cheeseheads) thread. Many great chicken enablers over there!

1 DGF (baby mama),1 daughter, 1 short haired miniture dachshund (black n tan), 2 Bared Rocks, 1 Buff Opringtons, 2 Black Austrolorp, 1 White Wyandotte, 3 Golden Laced Wyandotte, 1 Rhode Island Red, 1 Light Brahma, 1 Silver Spangled Hamburg, 1 Blue Andalusian, 2 Production Reds, 1 Barnyard mix, 1 Phoenix rooster, 1 Black Blue Andalusian and too many Quail at this point!