Disappeared: Entire Flock of Chickens

[TheOddOneOut]

Human. Absolutely. The 2 that came back likely found a way out, and came home.

 

[KeshaOklahoma]

Was the flock visible to a road or another property? I worry about my flock getting stolen because they are close to the road and are visible although I don't think someone would steal all of them w/o getting noticed by either me or my dog.

They are way back off the road, no way to see them without knowing they are there. I hope your flock will be okay and I don't think it's typical for people to steal them, we have never known of that happening before possibly last night. We also have dogs and the owners have guns. I would be surprised someone would risk getting shot to remove all his hens. They saw some of the hens at midnight before they went to bed so it had to be middle of the night. It's unnerving to me.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

They are way back off the road, no way to see them without knowing they are there. I hope your flock will be okay and I don't think it's typical for people to steal them, we have never known of that happening before possibly last night. We also have dogs and the owners have guns. I would be surprised someone would risk getting shot to remove all his hens. They saw some of the hens at midnight before they went to bed so it had to be middle of the night. It's unnerving to me.

Well, it couldn‘t have been a predator.

 

[Chicalina]

it is very odd indeed.

Why would someone want a bunch of ordinary laying hens? They are cheap to buy at feed stores. And chicken meat and eggs are cheap to buy ready to eat. Not much resale value.

Your poor friend, he must be devastated.

Watch out for local FB and Craigslist ads for laying hens in the next couple of weeks. Maybe do a local social media campaign to get people aware of this so they can't sell them on easily.

 

[Flockincrazy]

Hello everyone, I appreciate any help and to hear others opinions. Is it possible for a large group of chickens to disappear overnight without finding evidence of predators? We are heartbroken and frustrated. My dear friend and next door neighbor, overnight had his entire flock of 29 chickens and 2 Turkeys disappear. We found only few feathers on ground, which could have been there before. I have had chickens for many years, we have had problems with predators breaking into our house and getting one or two, usually raccoons. We are in Oklahoma, our known predators are bobcats, raccoons, possums, owls, skunks, large snakes. We have coyotes and an occasional mountain lion, it's in a rural area. I need help please so we can figure out what happened. He had no cameras and he does not lock them in at night. Which I think he should always do. They normally roost in several different locations, some on the back porch, far away from the hen house and they are all gone. Dogs nearby barked a lot last night but not sure at what. He had 8 ducks that normally hang around the chickens which were all okay. He thinks it was a person who came in overnight and stole his entire flock, which I think is highly unlikely, but can a predator carry off an entire flock without finding feathers/bodies/evidence? We walked 30 acres looking and find no trace of what might have happened. UPDATE: a Turkey and a hen showed back up, walking from the west. He is devastated at the loss and isn't wanting to get more chickens. I wanted to learn so we can try to prevent this from happening in the future.

I would walk to the west and dont put it past a human to take your flock i would put out a game cam also in the future when I feed my flock no matter if its feed or treats i always call them i say chick chick chick over and over till im done feeding them that way they associate my voice saying chick over and over with food/treats and when ever I say it they come running

 

[thepick4uchicks]

I would walk to the west and also in the future when I feed my flock no matter if its feed or treats i always call them i say chick chick chick over and over till im done feeding them that way they associate my voice saying chick over and over with food/treats and when ever I say it they come running

I do the same. I have a certain way I call my girls every night and every time I come out of the house I speak to them so they know I always have their condition on my mind. They know who Mama is and they do things for me better than anyone else on the homestead. They know who my daughter and husband are but they would rather have Mama lock them up for the night and greet them in the morning. It’s just their security net. I always introduce new things to them and have their most trust. But back to calling them I call them a certain way just like a mother hen would have a way of hers of clicking or calling. I have my way and they come. They also know the sound of our ADT alarm system and they come running when it goes off at the backdoor. They know most likely it’s me. I hope you get to the bottom of this incident. It is most likely someone who knows his place and his movements. The teenagers probably getting back at him or someone who has been there before and knows if the place. It’s just sad that the animals had to suffer to get back at someone. Terrible thing. Especially this time of year. They probably aren’t being well taken care of either. I hope I am very wrong.

 

[LaFleche]

He thinks it was a person who came in overnight and stole his entire flock

That was exactly my thought. And they do not have to be prized chicken or rare breeds to be stolen, as rapscallions usually do not care.

 

[Flockincrazy]

That was exactly my thought. And they do not have to be prized chicken or rare breeds to be stolen, as rapscallions usually do not care.

Did they come back

 

[Mmanist]

I would walk to the west and dont put it past a human to take your flock i would put out a game cam also in the future when I feed my flock no matter if its feed or treats i always call them i say chick chick chick over and over till im done feeding them that way they associate my voice saying chick over and over with food/treats and when ever I say it they come running

How I trained my chickens!

 

[cmom]

If you have a game camera put it up. Whether 2 legged or 4 legged predator, whoever may be back at some time. I never had anyone steal any birds but did have a 2 legged thief. I got the thief on camera in action steeling my egg money. It turned out to be someone we know.