5 of my chickens gone!

[KMAtterbury]

This is my first time having chickens. They were free ranging today and 4 are gone and we found 1 with its neck broken and puncture wounds it must have happened shortly before we found her she was still warm. I have 1 left how will she do without the rest? Our neighbor thinks they may be hiding & roosting somewhere but I don’t want to get my hopes up. We have 5 acres and they stay around. It was still light out but it was about time when they would hang around the coop. I’m so sad. Any suggestions or help appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Hei 20]

This is my first time having chickens. They were free ranging today and 4 are gone and we found 1 with its neck broken and puncture wounds it must have happened shortly before we found her she was still warm. I have 1 left how will she do without the rest? Our neighbor thinks they may be hiding & roosting somewhere but I don’t want to get my hopes up. We have 5 acres and they stay around. It was still light out but it was about time when they would hang around the coop. I’m so sad. Any suggestions or help appreciated. Thank you.

I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[CluckerFamily]

When scared, they will scatter and fly to the trees to roost.
I am so sorry about your chicken and I hope the others return.
Do you normally make a calling sound or have a typical bucket you use to get them to come?

 

[Ted Brown]

Chickens are social animals, from what I have read three is usually considered a minimum. An alternative is to bring her into the house if that is a possibility?

I hope you have a happy surprise!

 

[KMAtterbury]

Thank you all.

I do have a call but they didn't come. My son found feathers by the compost pile today.

I have one left - any suggestions on where to get chickens this time of year - I live in Nebraska. I don't want her to be lonely without her friends

 

[M Brennen]

Thank you all.

I do have a call but they didn't come. My son found feathers by the compost pile today.

I have one left - any suggestions on where to get chickens this time of year - I live in Nebraska. I don't want her to be lonely without her friends

Personally I think your best bet would be to find someone around you that has chickens about the same age that would consider parting with a few. As for the disappearance, I would be careful not to free range for a while until you find out what took the others.

 

[cmom]

I have several game cameras. Originally I put them up to see what predators are roaming. The predator will be back since it made a kill. If you have a camera, put it up and most likely you will find out what your predator is and then you can make a plan. I have electric wires around my coops and pens, concrete under the gates and good heavy duty netting covering all the the pens, all due to losses in the past. Good luck...

 

[cmom]

https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Nebraska_Swap.html

 

[cmom]

Maybe you can post in the Nebraska thread and hook up with someone who may have some birds for sale. Poultry are flock creatures. Again, good luck...

 

[cmom]

There are some Nebraska threads but nothing recent. You could revive an older thread or start a new one. Hope you find some friends for your girl...