Alrighty, we had 8 chickens in the beginning of November, and by the end of November we had 3. We started locking them up at night because we couldn't think of anything else to do. We hoped it would move on, and we'd just keep locking them up at night in their hen house (Their secure shelter) and letting them out into the coop in the morning. It's been awhile and we still have 3 chickens. We're pretty sure it's been a raccoon that's been taking them. So anyway, every few nights (not every night)when i go to lock them up, one of our chickens, "Sweety", will be in the back of the coop, instead of in the hen house roosting. I know it's weird but that chicken is so darn old i figured she must just get bored, so i just pick her up and put her in the nesting box and lock 'em up. (Btw i'm not trapping them in some crate, we have a large shelter that I, and my father, can easily pace in. it has a "human door" that we now keep latched, and a "chicken door" that we close at night and open in the morning.) So anyway, tonight about 10 mins ago, (it's 11:27 PM now), I went outside and was getting my goat's food, (we also lock our goats up in the Goat house) i heard clucking. It's 11:27 PM. One of them was clucking really loud, so i dropped what i was doing, and brought a headlamp and my dog with me to check out what was happening. One of them looked like they either molted really bad that day or had just fought off something. They where fine though, all 3, just clucking away. I thought i had made sure their feeder was full that morning but i thought maybe i had forgotten to check, so after i locked my goats up, (i had to lock them up first cause they saw me walk to the chickens and got fussy that they hadn't gotten their midnight snack yet and i was worried the neighbors where trying to sleep.) So i locked the goats up, and brought the chickens some food. I walked in and they didn't greet me at the door which they always do if they're awake. I went to the back and there they where just huddling and clucking. I gave them some food and they didn't want any, i checked their feeder and it was full. I checked their hen house door and it was open like it was supposed to be, so they weren't trapped outside. I picked them up one by one and put them in the nesting boxes near each other, cause they like to huddle in the winter. They where fine with me picking them up, and happy to have a free lift to their box. I locked them up, came inside, told my mom and she said she thought i had probably scared something off when i went out there. Some nights i go out there and hear something take off, but i'm in woods. When i walk around the trail at night the only animals i see are bunnies. I usually assume that's what i hear, but the night before last i did hear something croak/hiss. It had just snowed so it was lighter that night and didn't bring the headlamp, but when i heard the croak/hiss i went back inside and got it cause i'm paranoid like that
So any way, i've brought up the idea to get a motion activated game camera and put one outside to my parents, but they just thought i was being paranoid. (I have a reputation of being paranoid. I watch too many horror movies.)
I think money might be a factor. If anyone could tell me what cams they bought and if they work properly, and what they paid for it, i'd be really appreciative. -Thank you! Sorry for the long rant..
So any way, i've brought up the idea to get a motion activated game camera and put one outside to my parents, but they just thought i was being paranoid. (I have a reputation of being paranoid. I watch too many horror movies.)
I think money might be a factor. If anyone could tell me what cams they bought and if they work properly, and what they paid for it, i'd be really appreciative. -Thank you! Sorry for the long rant..