chickens gone--no signs of trauma

[berkeley_chick]

I've had the same three chickens for over two months now. They range free in our yard, which is surrounded by an 8 foot fence. I've seen them go over that fence twice, each time when scared by a predator, but each time they stayed just outside the fence.

Now, with now warning (and, per my mom, who was home at the time) no sound, two of the chickens are gone. No feathers, no blood, and the gate was latched. I've asked the neighbors, put up signs...this is in a pretty urban area.

question is--anyone have anything like this happen? And did you ever find out where they went? Did any ever come back after a couple of days? I'm surprisingly broken up over this, and now have a lone chicken I'll have to get company for...but don't want to end up with more than three chix if the first two come back...

any thoughts appreciated.

 

[HenThymes]

Unfortunately my guess would be some sort of hawk. Once they discover there is a food source at your place they keep coming back. They can pick them up and leave no signs they were ever there. Sorry for you loss.

 

[jjthink]

So sad. I'm so sorry.
What is the size of your chickens? If they are full grown standard sized chickens, many a hawk would likely have to dine on the spot, unable to fly with them, meaning you would see evidence.
Take your lone one indoors for now - whatever it is will be back.
And search search search the area just in case they got out and are alive. This may well be, and if so, they need you to find them. Time is of the essence.
What is the likelihood of some bad humans coming into your yard and taking them?
JJ

 

[lotzahenz]

We have seen a fox grab and run with chickens. Dogs often bite and kill, and drop them but fox want to eat them. An eagle might get one, but a hawk can usually carry off only smaller birds. They often just eat to the neck.

A coyote may grab one and run, but we have fox more in the day time, coyote more at dusk.

So sorry, chickens are hard to protect.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I would search around for a hiding spot - might have eggs or just be an out of the way area.


Also check under buckets, boards that could tip, things like that.


I hope they show back up and were just hiding.

 

[CountryBoy72]

I had a hawk attack last month. It took an hour to find my chickens they were all hiding.
They are very good at being hidden, I walked past 3 hiding in my shoe rack many times and another bunch in the bush I would have stepped on if I hadn't looked down.
Keep looking, you never know. Good luck

 

[berkeley_chick]

thanks for all the posts. I seriously doubt a hawk or a fox. I live in Berkeley--never heard of a hawk here. Or any fox sightings, either. And we're talking two almost full-grown chickens, both gone at once. Hard to imagine a hawk with one in each talon able to fly away

Many in my neighborhood have suggested a person stealing them, but that seems crazy, too. Easier to steal either prepared chickens or eggs from the grocery store. Finally, I wonder if maybe they got scared and jumped the fence, which they have done once or twice in the past when threatened, and then something bad happened to them. But not a TRACE that I can find, and I put up signs all over the neighborhood, and asked everyone I saw on the street, with no leads. Pretty much losing hope.

Anyway, thanks for all the good thoughts and responses. Will keep looking for answers.

 

[tammyd57]

You're talking about Berkeley, California, right? As far as I know, there isn't anywhere in California that has NO hawks. You may not have noticed them but they are everywhere, yes, even cities.

 

[Jen71]

This sounds terribly strange. I hope you find them.
The more I read about it, the more I think they probably got scared and are hiding somewhere.
I really hope this is the case and that you find them quickly.
Good luck.

 

[jjthink]

So worrisome. A search with a fine toothed comb may find them stuck somewhere, even in someone's garage or other outbuilding, where they got in and then a door got shut and hasn't yet been reopened. Check up in trees as well. It sounds like they got out and can't find their way to get back in. They're in so much danger 'out there' and need food and water. I fervently hope you can find them. Sending lots of good wishes.
JJ

Edited to add that my roo was once attacked by a fox (a neighbor saw this) and got away when the neighbors raised a ruckus but I couldn't find him. They thought he must be dead. But heart in my throat I combed the area gently calling his name and in time (hours after the attack) I heard a faint response from deep within a dense holly tree. My sweet boy was in there, injured and needing help. I coaxed him out of there and into my arms, where I carried him home. Lot of TLC and medical care later, he is happy and healthy now, years later. Had I not found him, it wouldn't likely have ended well. In a way I hate to share this story with you because it is a heavy burden to find them out there in the big bad world. But it can be immensely rewarding when you do. I will never forget the moment when I heard him answer me, weakly, and the effort he made to come to me.