3 Chickens...GONE....POOF

[jolly wattles]

my only point in mentioning the size of the openings was that even IF a very small raccoon got into the pen it would have had to get out too with 3 chickens. the chickens most definitely can't fit through a 2x4" opening. same goes for a mink or opossum. so whatever it was either came through the fence then took the birds out a different way or came in from the top and took them out that way too. from what you've described from the scene it def doesn't seem like the predator ate the chickens in the pen or there'd be more evidence or a carcass. i'm just trying to save OP some money if the fence wasn't the culprit but was instead the tarp or other entry way.

I'm not so sure a raccoon couldn't pull those birds through the holes. Those are not full sized hens. You'd be surprised how compacted a chicken could get .

 

[arouech]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-small-a-hole-can-a-predator-get-through.1154096/

Thanks for this, this is all great information! There is so much to go through I get so overwhelmed

 

[nanasnuggets]

So I just put my girls out in their new run and leave them out all day and then bring them in at night. I had issues getting them in so I've been leaving them out all night (with shelter to sleep in until our coop is done). I check on them every morning before I leave for work and as soon as I get home. Yesterday, I got home from work and saw some feathers on the ground as I walked up. Then I noticed more and more. All the girls came out to greet me, and as I counted, I found that 3 were gone. There was MAYBE a large handful of feathers in one area and very VERY little blood. I had to really search to find the blood. The run is pretty secure and I have no idea how something got in AND out with 3, 7-8 week old chickens.

I'm mad and sad all at the same time after spending so much time and energy on them for 3 to just disappear. I mean there is NO sign of them or which way it would have taken them. I want to say it was a cat that got them, but I'm not certain. Anyone have this happen before?? Just seems so strange because it was just some feathers laying around and no sign of a lot of blood.

Needless to say, I've brought the girls in for now until I find the source of my issue and will "take care" of it.

 

[mrsdee]

if they did pull the chickens out of the fence hole then i would think there'd be a lot more feathers and such around but idk! i'm not sure if this would help (at all) but along with all of the other suggestions, you might try to get a radio right by the fence and put it on loud. the chickens will get used to it but it may be enough to help deter a predator, hearing the people talk and sing and whatnot. a predator will get used to it after a time but it may work at least until you get your coop done!

 

[arouech]

if they did pull the chickens out of the fence hole then i would think there'd be a lot more feathers and such around but idk! i'm not sure if this would help (at all) but along with all of the other suggestions, you might try to get a radio right by the fence and put it on loud. the chickens will get used to it but it may be enough to help deter a predator, hearing the people talk and sing and whatnot. a predator will get used to it after a time but it may work at least until you get your coop done!

I use a radio for them when they're inside the garage at night.

 

[nanasnuggets]

I feel your pain!! We've lost NINE of ten chickens since August of last year to savage attacks. Only one was a hawk attack. We free-range on our five acres and have two German Shepherds patrolling the area. We mistakenly thought (not accused, whew!) our neighbor's (both new) dogs since we found one survivor on the far side of their property after one attack that killed four girls. The following week we actually sited a coyote taking one of our two remaining girls right in FRONT OF OUR PORCH! Those critters are FAST! Our remaining Australorp, Hildy, is actually living part of the time in our house . She's all alone and is a VERY social chicken!
We know that since this coyote has come back repeatedly, he/she knows that there's chicken on the menu. Therefore, my daughter's boyfriend is going hunting. I'm not a big fan of killing, but, I'm not raising chicks to feed the wildlife!
BTW- the coyote always shows up on the evening that our youngest GS is at S&R class.
Our 12 y.o. GS couldn't catch a coyote if her life depended on it, lol!
Our coop is very secure, and we haven't had any issues with 'something' trying to breach it.
Late afternoon, early evening, and early morning are the most dangerous times for our feathered friends. Vigilance, vigilance, vigilance; and even then there are no guarantees that something won't 'get' them.
I'm sorry for your loss, it's heartbreaking to lose chickens after watching them grow up, discovering their personalities, and becoming attached to them.

 

[Bluechick2u]

I really am spoiled by my llamas and alpacas keeping all predators away, when we have to house birds in a temporary flimsy housing, there are no losses as long as they are inside the pasture. We made the mistake of setting up a coop and run outside the pasture, and a skunk immediately killed a hen. We moved them into a quickie run and coop inside the pasture, and no more losses. Our llama is so awesome, absolutely worth having!

 

[arouech]

I feel your pain!! We've lost NINE of ten chickens since August of last year to savage attacks. Only one was a hawk attack. We free-range on our five acres and have two German Shepherds patrolling the area. We mistakenly thought (not accused, whew!) our neighbor's (both new) dogs since we found one survivor on the far side of their property after one attack that killed four girls. The following week we actually sited a coyote taking one of our two remaining girls right in FRONT OF OUR PORCH! Those critters are FAST! Our remaining Australorp, Hildy, is actually living part of the time in our house . She's all alone and is a VERY social chicken!
We know that since this coyote has come back repeatedly, he/she knows that there's chicken on the menu. Therefore, my daughter's boyfriend is going hunting. I'm not a big fan of killing, but, I'm not raising chicks to feed the wildlife!
BTW- the coyote always shows up on the evening that our youngest GS is at S&R class.
Our 12 y.o. GS couldn't catch a coyote if her life depended on it, lol!
Our coop is very secure, and we haven't had any issues with 'something' trying to breach it.
Late afternoon, early evening, and early morning are the most dangerous times for our feathered friends. Vigilance, vigilance, vigilance; and even then there are no guarantees that something won't 'get' them.
I'm sorry for your loss, it's heartbreaking to lose chickens after watching them grow up, discovering their personalities, and becoming attached to them.

My boyfriend warned me not to "humanize" them, but I just can't help it! I love animals, and you're right especially after raising them and watching them gain their own personalities. Hopefully after all the great information everyone has offered I'll be able to stop this before I lose any more. My boyfriend is anxious to "sit on the porch" and watch. He's ready to kill. LOL

 

[arouech]

I really am spoiled by my llamas and alpacas keeping all predators away, when we have to house birds in a temporary flimsy housing, there are no losses as long as they are inside the pasture. We made the mistake of setting up a coop and run outside the pasture, and a skunk immediately killed a hen. We moved them into a quickie run and coop inside the pasture, and no more losses. Our llama is so awesome, absolutely worth having!

If we were able, I'd have a llama in a heartbeat. I LOVE them so much. I helped on a farm that was down the road growing up

 

[Bluechick2u]

We sacrificed "quality of housing" for a 3 acre farm with an uninhabitable house on it just so we could have animals (we fixed up the house enough to live in it, but it won't win any beauty contests) and I feel like I won the lottery with this much land, I love having chickens and geese and ducks and turkeys and llamas and alpacas, but it means a LOT of coops and runs and sheds to build! We try to build from recycled items, ("obtanium") as much as we can since we're pretty broke, and it's a challenge to get the housing done right and on time! Good luck with your coop and run, I can't recommend hardware cloth enough for your walls.