Missing chicken during daylight. Only feathers left

[katie_94]

It's lightly raining and noon when I heard a thud and the hens screaming. I go outside and I see two piles of feathers, some feathers on the barrel (which I assume was the thud sound I heard), and a trail of feathers that stop in the middle of the yard. Just my luck, it starts pouring and I can't tell if there was blood or any blood at all. I go further into my yard and I see feathers stuck to a small opening between my fence and the neighbor's (that I've asked my dad to close up since he doesn't let me tough his power tools and I just cover it with a cement slab and wood that gets knocked over occasionally) but I don't see her from what visibility I have. The neighbors are either not home or ignoring their bell but I left a note asking if I can check their backyard.

I'm alone at home, it's pouring, I'm overwhelmed and just cried my eyes out as this as never happened before. The girls' run and coop are super well protected and I let them roam around my fenced backyard during the day. I have no idea if something killed her or she ran thru the small opening and is scared and/or injured. She's a large adult, easter egg girl. I literally saw her this morning when I gave her treats.

I've drove around but I can't find her. I know there's not much help that can be done here but I am so distraught. I live in northeast FL next to the coast and next to a vacant lot as there are more houses here than forest. I just left a voicemail asking our state wildlife commission if there's foxes in my specific area to get some closure. These chickens are my pets and I'm so attached to them as they help me cope with my autism this is hurting my heart.

 

[sourland]

Sadly, it sounds as if your flock just experienced a predator attack. It will likely return so keep your birds cooped up until the situation is resolved.

 

[katie_94]

Unfortunately, my dad has the ladder tucked away that I would need help getting it out. The rest of my chickens are fine and uninjured and have been locked away in their run/coop but it's been hours and I still can't find my missing girl. A biologist from the wildlife commission got back to me and although she sounded unsure and was making a generalization, she said that there's a possibility of foxes in my area and that if my girl was taken chances are she's not making it back. I don't want to give up on her but I might have to accept the worst case scenario.

Thank you for listening and giving advice to lock up the rest. It's hard to cope right now.

 

[FunClucks]

I'm so sorry about your chickens. Are any of them left, or did whatever it was get them all? If one/some of them survived, you might want to lock the survivor(s) in the secure run/coop, because odds are the predator will be back looking for more food.

You might see if you can get up on a ladder and at least look into their back yard. It might help you to know, rather than guess what's going on over there.

I'm so sorry this happened. Sending you supportive thoughts.

 

[FunClucks]

So sorry. This is one of the hard parts of chicken keeping. Sometimes, all you can do is wait and hope. You might find some comfort in knowing you gave your missing girl the best life you could for as long as possible. Sending you supportive thoughts.

 

[chickslovinmama]

I'm so sorry to hear about this. Sadly we just experienced a fox attack on one of our girls back in late Nov. We were a little lucky and we caught the fox in the midst of trying to abduct one of ours. She has been currently healing. I know that it doesn't give you warm and fuzzies or comfort hearing that, but wanted you to know that you're not alone. I wish for the best outcome for you, but it sounds as if your girl might be gone. Know that you gave her the best life she could have and keep the others safe because whatever predator came this time will be back. I wish you the best and lots of hugs and love coming your way. I know how heartbreaking it can be.

 

[katie_94]

The neighbors who I rang the bell yesterday and left a note taped to their front door now have their car gone from their driveway as well as the note so I can assume they ignored me. Their bell also had a camera so they probably saw my tear stained face and thought I was crazy.

I am so sad I'll never be able to get more closure as to her feathers being stuck to the opening and some of it in their yard.

 

[chickfused]

Fox will almost never get trapped by a live trap. The hole traps with paw clamps are the only way to reliably get them. This is hard to manage if you have cats or dogs. Hunting and shooting is the best option.

The only exception to this is to put the trap IN with the chickens by opening a secure space into the coop. Predators can't freakin' stand it, and will go in there eventually.

Foxes will move on if their food supply dries up. It takes about 2-3 weeks. And it'll come back in a few weeks again when it decides to come by to check and see if the food source has returned to a favored location. They can live up to 15 years, so not sure if this is the long term solution you're looking for.

 

[Candy2dog]

It's lightly raining and noon when I heard a thud and the hens screaming. I go outside and I see two piles of feathers, some feathers on the barrel (which I assume was the thud sound I heard), and a trail of feathers that stop in the middle of the yard. Just my luck, it starts pouring and I can't tell if there was blood or any blood at all. I go further into my yard and I see feathers stuck to a small opening between my fence and the neighbor's (that I've asked my dad to close up since he doesn't let me tough his power tools and I just cover it with a cement slab and wood that gets knocked over occasionally) but I don't see her from what visibility I have. The neighbors are either not home or ignoring their bell but I left a note asking if I can check their backyard.

I'm alone at home, it's pouring, I'm overwhelmed and just cried my eyes out as this as never happened before. The girls' run and coop are super well protected and I let them roam around my fenced backyard during the day. I have no idea if something killed her or she ran thru the small opening and is scared and/or injured. She's a large adult, easter egg girl. I literally saw her this morning when I gave her treats.

I've drove around but I can't find her. I know there's not much help that can be done here but I am so distraught. I live in northeast FL next to the coast and next to a vacant lot as there are more houses here than forest. I just left a voicemail asking our state wildlife commission if there's foxes in my specific area to get some closure. These chickens are my pets and I'm so attached to them as they help me cope with my autism this is hurting my heart.

That's sad... there are raccoons, hawks and owls that leave just feathers. Yes, owls in the day light, especially durning a dark gloomy day. As was sad previously, chickens are easy prey and whatever was there, WILL come back. When I lived in Washington State, I had Bobcats, getting into our chicken pen, by bouncing off the tree that was very close to the fence. Your best bet is to keep your flock fenced and put some sort of over head protection they can get under. We have little "huts" I call them, and my chickens to us them when they get frighten, but now we have two dogs that do the work for me.
RIght now, they are taking a break! Too hot for them to stay in long

 

[chickfused]

You likely have a fox. Much love my friend. I've lost many to fox. I ended up buying a dog, and no longer have fox problems. Feel free to see my profile for that thread.