9 hens - 8 vanish.. help!

[purg3d]

9 various breed full size hens (1 y/o) were let out of their coop this morning to free-range. I go out to give them scraps and they're nowhere to be seen. Found 1 at the base of a decorative pine tree. Feathers everywhere. No obvious wounds. It had been roosting whenever the struggle took place as there is a freshly broken limb. It has recently snowed (1/2 melted), but I don't see any tracks. My birds free range on 2 acres with natural barriers short of the road. It'll be dark in a few hours and I don't think any will be there to put to bed. Help?

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

That's horrible.

that some are hiding

 

[bargain]

Try walking around the acreage with a bucket of feed and scattering to find them or to feed them if they come out of hiding. Call them....Let your neighbors know they are missing!

 

[CheerfulHeart2]

OH dear. I hope they turn up.

 

[purg3d]

They're hearty birds. Given there were no tracks I can only assume the 1 was done in by a hawk. I've never had a problem with dogs, but I did see a fox about a year ago. Would it be impossible to presume maybe they were coaxed/netted and stolen? Road-side is nearly melted, so tracks aren't there. I'll scout the property again at dusk for any signs of seed or such.

 

[gsim]

Likely they are scattered and scared. You should see them straggle in tomorrow. I would not leave feed out because you want them to come to their coop.

 

[purg3d]

5 minutes til dusk I find 4 in some brush on one side of the property, then 3 more scattered in the woods. While I can't reenact a play-by-play, I can surmise there was an initial attack to scatter, as I found 4-5 razor-sharp claws in the snow, scattered feathers, struggle, then the bird of prey (apparently) as there were no tracks. Any thoughts as to the claw marks in the snow? Whatever it was carried it's prize away. Kind of an over-cast post-snow storm day. It's a shame, as it took those poor chickens almost a week to work up enough courage to venture out! I guess 7 out of 9 ain't bad.

 

[MakNat]

Aw.. I'm so sorry.. Hawks, Owls, sky predetors are ruthless. I've had a drake and a rooster, both named and very tamed, killed but not carried away.... For me to find, I didn't know what was worse? Them being killed or just the needlessness of their deaths, since the stupid thing couldn't even take them away... Sorry for your loss. Just feed them well, love them and keep them close!!!