Disappeared without a trace

[paloozaparty]

Hi,
Today somewhere between 12 -3pm two of my seven chickens(8 mo old) disappeared without a trace. They were both molting so I would think if anything was to grab them there would be feathers everywhere however no feathers were found. There is no way they could get out of their enclosure. Its 4 ft high. Its a mystery to me. I have looked all over for them. ???????

Just yesterday, one of our 5 mo old newer layer jumped our 8' fence!!! And, she's huge. Turns out that she's going thru a phase of trying to find where to nest. I helped show her today, She's calmed down. Today, then, one of our 16 mo old hens was 2 doors down for who knows how long--at our neighbors. I think she escaped a 3' gate. Neither of these incidents have ever happened before. It could be that yours are also looking to lay somewhere or getting loopy with weather changes? I'm sure you'll find them!

 

[paloozaparty]

If you don’t find them as much as it sucks it could be a fox. They don’t always leave feathers and if they do it’s usually only a couple.

UG yes, this is true! One of our neighbors' neighbors' called them to say that they saw a fox with one of their chickens in their mouths. If they didn't get that call, they'd have never known how it happened that their hen was gone. And, in broad daylight! AND, on a busy street in the city / residential neighborhood!

 

[LoneOak]

Every time I have lost birds in a similar way it has been Raccoons doing the dirty dead. I have also lost some to possums but it is easy to tell when a possum gets them, he will eat the guts and leave the carcass. Coons take your birds to a totally different location and sometimes leave no evidence behind. They can also get through some tiny little bitty openings that you would never imagine an animal could get through.

 

[Double Yolked]

On more than one occasion I've had some of my hens clear 6 ft fences with ease. Sometimes they find a launch point, a spot that allows them to jump up and then fly from height, but not always. I have a solid wooden gate on the east side of my run and I had to hang a couple of feet of bird netting above it to keep one determined little Australorp from escaping. She would fly up to the top of the gate, land, sit for a few minutes then launch to the other side and what ever caught her eye over there. She didn't start her Houdini tricks until she was about 9 months old.
If you have predators around though they are sometimes very good at leaving no trace. But with two vanishing? I'd consider the possibility they flew over, since I've seen my hens usually do a copy cat thing, where one finds a way and the rest follow.

 

[ReliezFarm]

I'm guessing it was attack from above probably a hawk or owl. Usually they will be perching on a tree nearby waiting for their next opportunity. If you don't have nothing over the top and the birds are young they can come and take them. If you've checked for holes then it can't be any of the other Predators like raccoons foxes or coyotes

 

[katelk55]

Hi,
Today somewhere between 12 -3pm two of my seven chickens(8 mo old) disappeared without a trace. They were both molting so I would think if anything was to grab them there would be feathers everywhere however no feathers were found. There is no way they could get out of their enclosure. Its 4 ft high. Its a mystery to me. I have looked all over for them. ???????

I have one that can fly up onto the top of my six foot fence and then over onto the outside of her enclosure. She will come back in just before it gets dark. None of the others can do this unless something scares them , So they can go over a four foot easily.

 

[Foxinthehenhouse]

I would think 8 weeks old is a little too young. What about an aerial attack, Hawk owl etc?

She said 8 months!

 

[Unsworth]

Even docile chickens, if excited/startled by something, can fly some distance. Four feet wouldn't be much of a hurdle. If the area is big enough, probably a hawk swooped in or if startled and jumped over the fence they aren't always very good about jumping back in so something probably got them.

 

[Gem N Jewel]

Hi,
Today somewhere between 12 -3pm two of my seven chickens(8 mo old) disappeared without a trace. They were both molting so I would think if anything was to grab them there would be feathers everywhere however no feathers were found. There is no way they could get out of their enclosure. Its 4 ft high. Its a mystery to me. I have looked all over for them. ???????

 

[Gem N Jewel]

I have seen chickens clear a six foot wooden fence and even fly higher than that into a tree. Hopefully they won’t go far. They usually stick close to the others.