daytime predators?! don't want to give up free range

[MzBalance]

It seems I may have lost my 2nd girl...middle of the afternoon and/or not returning to the coop
any advise?
we live in the burbs

 

[Ema]

daytime, I would suspect cat or dog, but don't rule out anything else that might be able to swoop down from the sky. my advise is enclosed run, and of course live trap so you can finally figure out what is getting your girls!!

Good luck and keep us posted!!

Ema

 

[Mattemma]

I would guess dog or a predator bird. I have read that coons and possums(though uncommon) might come out during the day.Oh,could be a fox a well. I would recommend keeping them in a run and set live traps for a while.Either you catch something or the animal moves on,but eventually it will be back for the easy kills.

 

[cpegram]

I have had a fox come out in the middle of the day...I would not have believed it if i didn't have it on video

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
More info needed. Age / size / breed of birds? Available cover and refuges? Acreage available for foraging? How you dispense feed? ID of predator? Guesses to predator ID not helpfull, need to know so proper management action(s) can be taken.

 

[florida lee]

I have seen Foxes and Raccoons out during the daytime many many times, so I would not rule them out as daytime predators.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
they are out constantly here

 

[henovergal]

First time around with chickens (25+ years ago) we lost a couple of hens to a fox and one to a neighbors dog. It was mid-day on three occassions.

 

[MzBalance]

We live in the burbs...our home is on about an acre with woods line in the back, side and across the street. The house next door is raised on a hill, so the never seem to make it up there. Their coop is open during the day, but they mostly spend the hottest part of the day roosting in the wooods line. I had chickens last year and NO problems during the day - but, break ins at night. We re created the coop for safety at night, but didn't expect problems during the day.
People say we could have fox and coyote, I guess that could be what got em.
We have one left and I'm not going to let her out of the coop/run today. Not sure what to do > hate to keep her enclosed. Hate to see that she is now an 'only', but hesitant to get another hen - especially when I would have to keep it enclosed

I appreciate all the input, but hate that I will have to give up the free range

 

[Judy]

I sympathize; I'd much rather let mine wander as they choose, even though their fenced yard is large enough to have a fair amount of vegetation growing in it. Lots of people do free range, with various meanings, despite losses. I used to, and had losses even with some dogs that wandered freely among the chickens. Daytime fox was my main predator. I believe it is more successful if they have other livestock to range with, perhaps goats or sheep, I don't really know which. I believe donkeys are pretty good for this. I'm sure you can't have a donkey where you live, though!

I agree with you that your lone chicken will be happier with a companion, even though both will be penned. Perhaps you can find a buff orp; they are usually pretty laid back.

Good luck.