Bad night for chickens

[tsperry88]

I am missing 5 of my 19, 10 week old chickens. I came home late last night and only checked that the automatic door had closed. It closes at sunset and they are always in by that time. They free range. So far I can only find signs that 1 was taken by preditors, due to a pile of feathers. Fortunately or unfortunately my woods are dense with good hiding places. How far will scared chickens go?

 

[swamphiker]

Don't lose hope, some of your chickens might be okay!

We had a similar incident (though luckily all of the chickens made it out alive) a few nights ago, and the runaway chicken was found the next morning at the next door neighbor's, which isn't very far in my suburban neighborhood. She likely hid out overnight in the closest patch of thick vegetation.

However, my chickens are used to staying inside of a 1/4 acre yard, so yours may go further if they are used to roaming more widely. I hope some of them turn up soon!

 

[tsperry88]

I have noticed that each different breed behaves somewhat similarly. The missing birds are all but one of my Rhode islands. The obvious dead chicken was a speckled sussux. The brave risk takers.

I have searched quite hard. They would need to go 100 yards or more, depending the direction, to get off my property.

 

[cmom]

If you have a game camera, put it up because the predator will be back and then you will know what you are dealing with. The predator has been probably lurking looking for an opportunity and found one. Good luck...

 

[tsperry88]

I don't have one, but I might buy something. The other chickens are somewhat on edge and hanging out in the coop, but friendly as usual.

 

[Danny188]

My rooster flew the coop in a dog attack yesterday and went a good 200 yards away from the coop, when it happend a month ago we had at least 10 chickens scattered within a 100 yard radius, took all of 3 hours with 5 people to find them all, they went into thick grass and raspberries bushes in our case. We had ours trained to corn shaking in a cup so we went around doing that. They were all still scared so it only worked for about 3 of them the rest we had to wait a while or find them ourselves. If yoi have something like that you can do or if you can make a sound they associate with you.

Edit: we have a 3 ft chicken wire fence that the dog jumped, we didn't have really any daytime predators till these people moved in with their husky first one ran through the invisible fence second one there 3 year kid old let out. Killed 3 chickens in 10 minutes the first time while we were at the feed store second time killed 3 in 2 or 3 minutes. Different dogs same owner, I would have shot it the second time if it was the same dog, but should have shot it anyway. Haha I charged 145 the first time for the 3 dead and 4 injured but this time I'm charging double for 3 dead and 4 injured and for screwing up twice in one month, they could sell that dog and make all their money back if they really needed to.

 

[tsperry88]

I have searched several acres around the coop at least. Still only found the feathers from the speckled Sussex. There are thousands of hiding places. Lots of ferns, briar patches. Fallen down farm buildings, an abandoned house, ect.

 

[Danny188]

I have searched several acres around the coop at least. Still only found the feathers from the speckled Sussex. There are thousands of hiding places. Lots of ferns, briar patches. Fallen down farm buildings, an abandoned house, ect.

I would think they would come home by now unless they are lost, they may have flown up into trees and been to scared to come down, that or the predator killed them and dragged them off. Do they know the area to were they would get back on their own? If their instincts took over last night they could have flown into trees and are too scared or didn't realize how high they went and are afraid to fly down. Just suggest, good luck!

 

[tsperry88]

At this point I don't expect them to turn back up. Kind of sad. Live and learn I guess. I didn't expect ground preditors before dark. My door follows sunset, so I know it closed at 8:36, which is still quite light out.

 

[Danny188]

At this point I don't expect them to turn back up. Kind of sad. Live and learn I guess. I didn't expect ground preditors before dark. My door follows sunset, so I know it closed at 8:36, which is still quite light out.

Any come back today?