Chickens missing without a trace

[jed1154]

OK,

I have lost TWO chickens within the past couple of months, the last one tonight. These are full sized Barred Rock birds. I have chicken wire around the run, with netting on the top and the coop is closed up before 10pm every night. THere are no holes in the netting but these birds are gone...no trace at all. No blood, no clumps of feather, nothing.

Can a raccoon get into an OPEN chicken coop, kill a chicken, and take it out without any fight whatsoever? Surely there would be blood or SOMETHING. I have searched within 300 feet of the coop on the ground and found nothing.

Any ideas? It seems to me if a raccoon got in the coop the flock would go absolutely nuts. They literally seem to disappear into thin air.

 

[vickie2133]

Could it have been a two legged one?

 

[WriterofWords]

I don't know, I've had a similar problem lately but over the last month I've lost 5 roos and two male ducks, gone without a trace and all male!

 

[Matt A NC]

A coon can take one out of an open coop, but with a large bird they would eat there and leave once they get full. Then they come back when hungary again.

In your case, I would look for 2 legged predators(person).

Right after it gets dark, try spreading some sand or even flour around the coop. This will help you see the tracks that are left.

Matt

 

[mychickensrock]

Our favorite little bantam went missing without a trace. Our girls free range during the day though. Didn't know she was missing til we did a head count one night. We figure a hawk took her. Are your chickens enclosed at all times? As far as raccoons go, I know they are very clever and they LOVE chickens. I would think that there would be some sign of something though.

 

[ChooksChick]

I forgot to close the pop door one night. I have a baby monitor in the coop that has the receiver right next to my head as I sleep.

5 am comes and with it a loud chicken screaming, "Bloody murder! The monster has me!!!"

I tear out of the house at breakneck speed in my pajamas, barefoot, not aware my feet are hitting the ground, crying, "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!" at harpy decibels, and hubby follows with the flashlight, quick enough to see the giant striped tail go over the ivy fence.

A bird is missing.























Fortunately she was right next to me as I stared at the gaping pop door and I just didn't notice because she's black and brown. The raccoon had dropped her.

It could be that a raccoon grabbed yours and ran. If it hadn't been for the monitor, that momma coon would have had a chicken dinner for her kits! It's like take-out if you don't close the coop up at dusk, and depending upon the predator, some strike in the day.

I'm very sorry for you- that's horrible. We had a missing bird tonight, but after an hour of searching, we discovered her in the neighbors' yard, bedded down on the ground in the corner- she got over the fence and didn't know where to go.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

A fox will often carry a bird away too.

 

[KKatknap]

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I am going to have to guess cockfighters on this one...although, the ducks are odd...do they have fighting ducks?

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

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I agree. A fox will snatch one and not even leave so much as a feather.

 

[WriterofWords]

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I am going to have to guess cockfighters on this one...although, the ducks are odd...do they have fighting ducks?

Those were two of my male Runner ducks! My problem I think, is that my birds are so friendly they walk up to strangers at the fence and beg for treats. I've lost 3 at night, the first was Tux, my handicapped roo, then I lost two black Silkie roos at night, but then during the day while I was at work and my parents and taken the motor home for propane, I lost two bantam cochin roos. One duck vanished at night, and one during the day when again, no one was home.