Five Of My Hens Are Missing

We free range our flock but we have an automatic coop door that works on a timer. It opens a little after daylight and closes just after sunset. It has been working fine. Earlier this week I noticed that none of the chickens were coming out to graze. I went to the coop and the rooster was guarding the automatic door which was open and the hens were all gathered in a bunch in corner. I counted them and instead of 18 there are only 12. I've seen no feathers around, only one dead chicken in the coop a couple of weeks ago with no visible sign of injury and now there are 5 more gone.

Any ideas? Wouldn't a fox or a raccoon leave prints around the coop and maybe blood and feathers? Could a hawk get that many chickens? Is their reluctance to go outside maybe due to some fear of a predator?


Any ideas?

Predators all have a distinct way of killing. While it could be possibly many...do you have Bobcats in your area? It's really hard to guess...could be hawks too! It's something that knows where a easy meal can be had for sure...daytime, I would rule out coons and smaller varmints if the carcass is no where to be found. Good Luck...it will continue til you figure what's up.

bigz

Predators are hunters by nature and leave little to no tracks
unless you know what to look for and you must check daily




When I come in your yard I will sit five feet from you
and you will not even know I am in the area this is
my trade, what I do ,,,,





I will not let go of my well earned reward just because
you are here






Go ahead look at my claws ,,,,, a house cat is tiny when
you compare what I got for weaponry I can get a chicken
in one swipe and I only chase them for fun as I can pounce
faster then you can blink





The only tracks I leave are the little drag marks when I
catch your Marines and the tips of their wings drag the
ground ,,,,,,, And no I am letting go of this Marians ether
so go ahead and take your picks of me I am hungry and
this one is mine





Mr. Cat , Bob here and his family came back again and
again as the casualties on both sides grow and grow till
the total of 23 Kaka Campbell's Ducks, 16 Peking Ducks
and over 30 different Chickens and 1 Goose and what
he only got one of us to every 5 of his losses as he secured
the coops better we had to hunt in pack and in the day ....
His cage traps we laugh at but they worked in the end .......



A fox, That is a different story ......








gander007