Birds just gone in the night

[BYCforlife]

They couldn't have been roosting, because I go there every day and there weren't feathers on the path. The pile was about 100 feet from the coop, where the chickens normally stay. I think it happened in the middle of the day. They never stay out at night.

 

[theuglychick]

In 2 different instances, I've had birds with feathers plucked out of them. The second time it happened I knew exactly what it was.

The first one we found on the edge of the yard in a pile of feathers, mostly pulled out of her tail and underside. We thought she was dead because she was lying there unresponsive. I guess she had passed out from fear because when we picked her up she came to and we put her back in the coop. It took her a few days to get better but she recovered. We had no idea what it was. To this day this bird will not come out of the run.

The second one was hatch mate to the first one. This one we found nearly completely plucked and dead. She was in my neighbors yard brought there by his dang dog.

His terrier kills everything (raccoons, possums, armadillo, rabbits) and figured out how to get in my coop. The only birds in there at the time were 2 pullets.

As soon as the animals stop moving she loses interest. So apparently the first pullet blacked out quick and survived. The second one wasn't so lucky.

I've reinforced the coop so now it's a non-issue. She doesn't bother the big birds because they don't run from her.

I lost 2 hens to something, no feathers, nothing. Later, I lost 2 more but this time there was a large pile of clumps of feathers. I am not worried about losing any more, since I stopped free ranging, but do you have any ideas what rips out clumps of feathers?
My chickens now are confined to a 600 square foot run. Pretty cruel, huh?

 

[chickencheeper]

So this spring I lost 4 free ranging ducks in the middle of the night. No feathers no blood, nothing. Just poof, gone. Set up the game camera thinking whatever took them would be back. Never saw anything.
Over the summer we've seen fox, opossum and raccoons on the camera. The only thing recently was an opossum.
Last night I didn't close the coop door and again I am missing several birds. No blood no feathers just gone like last time.
I keep ducks and geese in the same fenced in area as the coop but didn't hear any racket during the night.
Any idea what i'm dealing with?

Might be a momma fox because 4 ducks is a huge meal for one Fox , she might have fed her family with the ducks

 

[MINDANAO DAVE]

So this spring I lost 4 free ranging ducks in the middle of the night. No feathers no blood, nothing. Just poof, gone. Set up the game camera thinking whatever took them would be back. Never saw anything.
Over the summer we've seen fox, opossum and raccoons on the camera. The only thing recently was an opossum.
Last night I didn't close the coop door and again I am missing several birds. No blood no feathers just gone like last time.
I keep ducks and geese in the same fenced in area as the coop but didn't hear any racket during the night.
Any idea what i'm dealing with?

If you think it is a fox there are two things I would try. If you have electricity in the coop put a radio on in the coop. The other is a baby monitor and take the portable in the house so that you can monitor the coop at night. Fox are smart and really don't like going into a small space so if they hear the radio they will be even more shy and most likely not go into the coop. It is a good deterrent for all animals.

 

[chickencheeper]

Maybe a motion sensing light as a deterrent? They sell them on amazon specifically as flock protection.

 

[chickencheeper]

Might be a momma fox because 4 ducks is a huge meal for one Fox , she might have fed her family with the ducks

Oops! I just read the part were you said you found them!LOL! My bad

 

[MINDANAO DAVE]

I lost 2 hens to something, no feathers, nothing. Later, I lost 2 more but this time there was a large pile of clumps of feathers. I am not worried about losing any more, since I stopped free ranging, but do you have any ideas what rips out clumps of feathers?
My chickens now are confined to a 600 square foot run. Pretty cruel, huh?

If you're loosing then in the daytime free ranging it could very well be a hawk or eagle. They will pick off the feathers. A hawk will grab it take it a short distance where it feels safe to eat it.