Disappeared without a trace

[Jodster70]

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. ???????

When my hens get a little spooked, and they start to run, they easily can fly over my 6 foot high fence. They have even flown on top of their 8 foot high pen. 18 weeks old.

 

[quackenboss]

When that happens at my place, it’s a bobcat. I had one clear an 8’ fence with a chicken.

 

[LeeWren]

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. ???????

Sad news. I found both girls dead in the enclosure under a large rose bush this morning. I believe a hawk scared them under the rose bush yesterday afternoon and went in after them. Its happened before but no loss of chickens. They must have panicked and got stuck. A hawk flew away yesterday low overhead as I was looking around the enclosure for them. Probably waiting to get back to them. That's why I believe it was a hawk.

I am so sorry at such a sad outcome. One of my three hens disappeared without a trace in my fenced in backyard a couple of months ago...we live in the middle of Chicago but have a real hawk problem -- one of my gals was badly wounded by a hawk attack when she was a pullet. I searched everywhere when I found my Buff Orpington wasn't roosting that evening when I went to lock the coop. A not-so-large backyard mind you. But no feathers, no evidence of anything. The next morning she had not appeared so I searched again and out of the corner of my eye spotted her golden feathers in the light of day. She was wedged between the fence and a big rock. She must have fled to this secure spot because of a threatening hawk and just couldn't get out. And I just couldn't see her at night, not even with a flashlight. Even in a smallish space there are places that can escape our notice...fortunately Trilly was no worse for wear.

 

[SusanneDeF]

Can humans get in there? If there is no lock on it maybe someone Took them

 

[Crzy Chi Lady]

I had chickens fly over my 6ft wall. Especially if they are light and small. I have had coyote jump my fence and take birds. Just recently one of my new 8mo old hens were broody and didn’t want to be around any other hens. She jumped the wall. I tried to retrieve her. However I was to late a dog ate her.

 

[silkielover64]

I had a coon climb a 7 ft fence. And grab my rooster. Without a trace

 

[twagoner]

My oldest hen flies up into a tree every night. Also, Clipped wings don’t always make it impossible for hens to fly. Our newest hens could still fly to the top of our 4-foot fence after their wings were clipped.

 

[Judy Todd]

It could have been a fox however there would have to be feathers everywhere. No feathers were found. No Bobcats or Coyotes that I am aware of in the area.

I had a fox carry a hen all the way across my yard, jump a 5 foot fence with fat hen in mouth and leave not a feather anywhere.

 

[oldhen2345]

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.

I have a 4 ft hog wire fence around my run (all of this is inside a 6 ft privacy fence). The hens have a wing clipped for safety. However, they would jump up on the 4x4 fence supports and hop over. One morning, I found them happily roosting on my patio. I had to bend some hardwire cloth into a triangle and staple it to the top of the 4x4 supports to prevent a catastrophy- one of my dogs loves to kill chickens. So far, so good.

 

[Silky45]

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’m going to say hawk or a big crow . I have seen those birds pick up chickens and fly away like it’s nothing. Safest bet is to keep them in a covered run unless your outside with them. Also even my silkies can get up on a 4ft fence if tempted and my other chickens can do 6ft ,so it’s a possibility they got out on their own. So sorry this happened. So far every part of raising chickens has been trial and error for me so my only other advice is also carry a broom or a rake so if you see the hawk you look bigger. I have actually had to swing at one that swooped to grab my chicken , I was the winner