Chicken missing. No trace

[Jennyhaschicks]

Quote:
I wouldn't think so. We live in the country. On side of us is my hubbys brother and on the other side is his cousin. We have 30 acres around us and a bog that borders most of our property up back. They would have to come in through the woods because we would see them out front.
I talked to a buddy of mine who is going to let me borrow his live trap. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we actually trap whatever it is.

 

[Yutongzhang]

Two of my chickens are missing as well! I hope we both find ours.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I went next door to a party for a bit last night..... When I came home at 8 to put them to bed I was missing a WL pullet..... There is no sign of a struggle or anything like that..... I assumed if something killed her it would have left feathers or something.....

I wonder if a bird or prey could have grabbed her...? I am a wreck because I never leave my chickens. One of us is ALWAYS home......

In the world of chicken predators the flock keeper must be vigilant 24/7/365 to keep their poultry safe, while the chicken predators only need to be lucky for a second or two to get a chicken dinner. However your "pullet" may have stolen her nest away in some place that you never thought that a hen would lay. Good luck.

 

[Khuck]

In the world of chicken predators the flock keeper must be vigilant 24/7/365 to keep their poultry safe, while the chicken predators only need to be lucky for a second or two to get a chicken dinner. However your "pullet" may have stolen her nest away in some place that you never thought that a hen would lay. Good luck.

Unfortunately we/family had a horrible experience like this in the last few months. Although I knew we had Bob cats in the area, still not 100% sure of the culprit, but think it is/was a Bobcat. We had a chicken massacre, with very little sign left. Almost all carried off intact with few traces, a few, 2, were left half eaten. The culprit (s) killed and took away 9 birds, two left for evidence. They broke through regular light gauge chicken wire. My son in law caught in a trap a big domestic Tom cat that was wilder than any Bob cat a couple days later. So, could have been the domestic, but I doubt it, but most likely a combination of a couple bobcats is my guess about the culprits. Felt horrible, but those types of learning experiences are hard to prepare for, and still not sure we have eliminatedhe threat, but did have the cat we caught put down by local animal control. I just can't see a house cat tearing apart chicken wire and haul ing off that many birds in one sitting. I am also thinking possible a flock of racoons were possible culprits? Last yeat we found our l8be ickrn at the ranch, headless in 5he eterrs watrr trough. Bobcats wnd coyotes are around there, 5h e t is part of ky racoon throry, thr predator was eashing tye chickrn before eating thr halancr of the bird. Strange! Anyone had similar horrific experience? Some family pets were victims in this attack, so we definitely don't want a repeat with the replacements, or the ones we will attempt to replace with. Some birds are irreplaceable, I have learned quickly. @familylovesourchicks! RIP poor girls. Khuck

 

[chickengeorgeto]

In the last two or 3 years I have captured and relocated two bobcats to bobcat heaven, both big toms. The last one was a scared up grizzly old veteran who only had one eye. Judging from the scars on his face he had engaged in many cat fights. This is unprecedented in my long experience and I feel that it means a resurgence of bobcat numbers with a corresponding drop in chicken numbers.

 

[Khuck]

In the last two or 3 years I have captured and relocated two bobcat to bobcat heaven, both big toms. The last one was a scared up grizzly old veteran who only had one eye. Judging from the scars on his face he had engaged in many cat fights. This is unprecedented in my long experience and I feel that it means a resurgence of bobcat numbers with a corresponding drop in chicken numbers.

 

[Khuck]

I am afraid you may have analyzed the situation correctly. I am planning a relocation party soon. I have a call that helps with invitations to a party like this. I suspect the culprits live on my small ranch about 1/4 mile towards less populated area. So, my plan is to remove them from my 240 acre plot,to an unlimited one in the sky. Especially if I have an indication they are planning another ambush. Not enough experience to know if a Bob can tear through chicken wire? ?, not the heaviest gauge I have seen, but not plastic either

 

[Locklinsgirl]

I am so sorry to hear that. I had the same thing happen about 2 weeks ago. She was taken off her nest at night with no trace and her 7 chicks were left. I think it had to be a fox or coyote for there not to be even a sign of a struggle. I hope yours is a happy ending.

Last week one of my RIR Ruby, came up missing. I searched and searched no trace of feathers or a struggle either. Well low and behold! I was walking toward the pen with some snacks for my birds and I noticed standing from a distance, a RIR , I thought how did she get out? Well it was Ruby wanting to go back in the pen. So search sheds and under other homes, don't give up looking.

 

[cmom]

Since the posts are from 2017, I think they can give up the search and hope now. I had a bobcat kill 14 birds one night. It made the mistake of coming back. It dug under a fence. Since I put electric wires around my coops and pens and nothing has gotten past them.