2 Vanishing chickens

[poodlepill]

I had one chicken about 3 months ago just vanish now last week another vanish, no feathers anywhere to be found. I have no memory of the first one as I didnt catch on that she was missing till a week or so later bad me. This last one was during daylight hours and she is a full grown EE, just vanished. Chickens do free range and I am out on land but totally fenced in. Is this hawks? I just cant see anything else snatching chickens during daylight hours?

 

[sourland]

Fox, coyote, bobcat will all snatch and run. All are feeding young now and will hunt whenever it is necessary- day or night.

 

[allieloveschickens]

Could be a hawk, or maybe a dog- though dogs are usually messier and noisier. Sorry for your loss

 

[taprock]

I'd bet fox. Lost one of my girls about a month or so ago, just gone.

 

[poodlepill]

But I am totally fenced in, 5' with a top wire making it 5 1/2 foot tall and fence to the ground with no holes dug under that is what is stumping me. I am on 3 acres just outside of town so not remote at all. If a Hawk did this wouldnt there be a pile of feathers from when the hawk landed on the chicken?

 

[sourland]

Hawks can fly away with far less than people think they can. Generally they kill and eat at or near the point of kill unless the prey is relatively small. Yes, they pluck feathers and scatter them around the carcass. Coyote, fox, bobcat will not hesitate to go over a fence of that height.

 

[PhoenixAngel429]

I'd say like some others a coyote or other animal like that.