Hey, what killed my chick and how can I prevent it from happening again?

[Icantraisechickenshelp]

Today, at 10:00 AM, I went outside to check on my two and a half week old baby chicks that I put outside for now, since it was pretty warm outside today. Then I counted my chicks... And one of the batam's were missing! I was pretty confused. Did one of them escape? Then I saw a big black thing the size of a cat jump over the fence that looked like either a weasel or a raccoon. I searched the premises but found no body... Was the thing that jumped over my fence just a coincidence, or was there something else that might have killed my poor chicken? And no, I don't have my coop near water, so it was not a mink. It can be a hawk I guess...

 

[Chickenbrainiac]

Did you see any trace of blood in the coop? or foot prints? A picture of the place where the attack took place would be nice too.

 

[IamRainey]

I think you've made a mistake if you left a way for anything to get into your enclosure.

I suspect you need a secure roof or at least a hardware cloth covering. And you should also have a 1/2"hardware cloth enclosing the space so there's no question of a chick escaping.

 

[Icantraisechickenshelp]

There was nothing. It just disappeared. And yes, I did have a enclosure. But we didn't have a roof, so good point.
I think it won't just run away, because we have a load of 15 chicks. Also, this isn't the first time we brought them outside...

 

[Norcal527]

Anything could take small chicks from an open pen. Even a cat. Raccoons typically strike at night.

 

[danceswithronin]

Today, at 10:00 AM, I went outside to check on my two and a half week old baby chicks that I put outside for now, since it was pretty warm outside today. Then I counted my chicks... And one of the batam's were missing! I was pretty confused. Did one of them escape? Then I saw a big black thing the size of a cat jump over the fence that looked like either a weasel or a raccoon. I searched the premises but found no body... Was the thing that jumped over my fence just a coincidence, or was there something else that might have killed my poor chicken? And no, I don't have my coop near water, so it was not a mink. It can be a hawk I guess...

So are they free ranging, or are they in an enclosed run?

I'd guess a hawk if you found no body, but I'm surprised you found no feathers either.

 

[Icantraisechickenshelp]

So are they free ranging, or are they in an enclosed run?

I'd guess a hawk if you found no body, but I'm surprised you found no feathers either.

Only on Sunday' we let them free range, so we can keep a eye on them 24/7. Today was NOT a sunday.

I know. I guess it is possible that they ran away, although I can't see how they can get out of a 4ft enclosure... With no roof.

 

[danceswithronin]

Only on Sunday' we let them free range, so we can keep a eye on them 24/7. Today was NOT a sunday.

I know. I guess it is possible that they ran away, although I can't see how they can get out of a 4ft enclosure... With no roof.

If you have no roof on your run I'd bet twenty bucks a hawk is what took him. They can be very bold, I read on this forum a few days ago where a hawk actually swooped into someone's garage and attacked chicks in their brooder while they were standing right there.

 

[Icantraisechickenshelp]

And also we bring them inside at night, to be safe, so this definitely is after 7:00 AM

 

[danceswithronin]

And also we bring them inside at night, to be safe, so this definitely is after 7:00 AM

Yeah I still say hawk. Most other things it could be are night predators and would have raised a lot more hell I think than stealing just the one chicken.