2 moms, 10 - oops - 9 chicks...?

[thebritt]

We have 2 banty cross hens with chicks in a separate area from the rest of the free-rangers. There were 10 chicks until this morning, when I counted (over and over and over) 9 CHICKS. One had VANISHED w/out a trace! What would take only 1 chick? (they're about 4 weeks old).

 

[Love my Critters!]

It could have just gotten seperated from mom and the other siblings. It could also be "stuck" somewhere. I don't think anything came and got one of the babies, but if something did it was probably a cat or a bird of prey (if your chickens are out in the open). I've seen hawks swoop down and pick up a chick and fly off with it. Thats just my 2-cents

 

[pbjmaker]

I lost a few chicks to hawks last year - there would be no evidence - they just "poof".

 

[thebritt]

The moms and chicks are completely enclosed (top cover of 1" chicken wire as well as on all sides), and I went into the enclosure looking for it, but there was no sign of it anywhere. Still baffled!