I've been keeping chickens for 3 years now. In that time, I've never lost a bird to any predator. My set up is unique in that I have a large run about 6,000 square feet enclosed with 6 feet high field fence, set in a larger yard surrounded by a 5 foot chain link fence. The Chain link fence is surrounded on two sides by barb wire fence a foot away. So my birds are in a fence surrounded by a fence surrounded by a fence. In the middle of their enclosure is a 40 ft high Douglas Fir tree. There is also 2 small chicken houses good for 3 or 4 birds, 1 medium chicken house good for maybe 7-8 birds, and one large shed with 2x4 perches set up that will fir about 20 birds. My older hens sleep in the various hen houses, the hens with clipped wings sleep in the shed, and the younger birds the single rooster roost in the Douglas Fir.
Up to a week ago, I had 34 birds--1 rooster, 5 chicks/pullets and 28 hens. A week ago I realized I was missing one of my hens. I looked around and there was no carcass, no feathers, and no sign of her. Today I conducted an inventory and I only counted 31 birds--so I am missing 3 birds total. Again, there are no signs of struggle, no feathers, no carcass. I live in a fairly isolated house, surrounded by hayfields and cows. There used to be coyotes who would test my fences, so I got a good Anatiolan Shepherd dog who pretty much keeps the coyotes at bay. In the last year, I have not seen nor heard any coyotes. I saw one racoon 6 months ago but it seemed to to be hurrying off because both my dogs were aware of it and barking. During the day time there are hawks and falcons flying over, but many of my chickens are black because I read that black chickens will keep hawks away. my dogs do bark at night every night but every time I check it is because of deer. So I've lost 2 birds--one was a Easter Egger and one was Buff Upington. They were younger birds that roosted in the tree. So who is taking my birds? Both of them were smallish in size. I haven't figured out the 3rd missing bird yet. Do you think I have an Great Horned Owl preying on my girls? Will an owl attack a roosting bird in a tree? Would a Great Horned Owl carry off a small chicken or would it eat it there at the kill site? How can I stop my losses? Any suggestions? Attached are two photos that show my chicken yard set up.
Up to a week ago, I had 34 birds--1 rooster, 5 chicks/pullets and 28 hens. A week ago I realized I was missing one of my hens. I looked around and there was no carcass, no feathers, and no sign of her. Today I conducted an inventory and I only counted 31 birds--so I am missing 3 birds total. Again, there are no signs of struggle, no feathers, no carcass. I live in a fairly isolated house, surrounded by hayfields and cows. There used to be coyotes who would test my fences, so I got a good Anatiolan Shepherd dog who pretty much keeps the coyotes at bay. In the last year, I have not seen nor heard any coyotes. I saw one racoon 6 months ago but it seemed to to be hurrying off because both my dogs were aware of it and barking. During the day time there are hawks and falcons flying over, but many of my chickens are black because I read that black chickens will keep hawks away. my dogs do bark at night every night but every time I check it is because of deer. So I've lost 2 birds--one was a Easter Egger and one was Buff Upington. They were younger birds that roosted in the tree. So who is taking my birds? Both of them were smallish in size. I haven't figured out the 3rd missing bird yet. Do you think I have an Great Horned Owl preying on my girls? Will an owl attack a roosting bird in a tree? Would a Great Horned Owl carry off a small chicken or would it eat it there at the kill site? How can I stop my losses? Any suggestions? Attached are two photos that show my chicken yard set up.
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