Chickens disappearing

[jnjmanning]

I had 4 free range hens. Two weeks ago one came up missing, middle of the afternoon. She was there at 1 and gone at 3. Now Monday same thing again. She was here at 2 and gone at 5. No feathers, no sounds, just gone? Hawks? Coyotes? Help!!!

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

It's really hard to say what it could be. I've had chickens just come up missing as well, and there's no worse feeling than not knowing what happened to them. Do you have a run? Maybe you could keep them penned up for a day and stand guard to see if something comes back looking for another free meal. Good luck, sorry about your hens.

 

[growyourbrew]

Yeah, it could be anything. We had a free-ranging rooster. He would come back to roost every evening then one day, just gone (with feathers left behind). Probably taken by a fox

 

[crayon]

Same thing just started happening to us about a month ago. agh- it is SO frustrating! We have free-range birds and honestly I just don't think they would do well cooped up. But arrrr...... We had our mama hen go missing about a month ago- totally bummed because she sits on eggs and hatches and was a FANTASTIC MAMA! Then our bossy hen, then an Isa-Brown we got this spring (found the feathers) now today another barred rock...

I am so grumpy!

We do live in the woods- the sent of my dog has kept the buggers at bay- but now they are moving in.

I am thinking a fox- same things as you- here in morning- gone by afternoon!

I am not even sure what to do.

 

[mystkblu]

Fox, coyote or dog. They tend to hit and run without leaving an explosion of feathers. Raptors always leave a huge plume of feathers behind from the high velocity impact. And bobcats tend to leave a trail of feathers as they run off.

 

[jnjmanning]

Well I got 3 shots off at a coyote yesterday! I hope it scared it enough that it wont come back here!!! So I am thinking it has been them all along. Scary thing is, he wasnt scared by me or all the noise my beagle was making! He even waited for me while I ran inside and got my .22! I am sure this drought has brought them closer to feed. We need RAIN so bad! Good luck everyone!