Hello! Long time listener, first time caller. I have (had?) 15 pullets that are exactly 5 months old today. In fact, we got our first egg today! They like to live dangerously, and have been free ranging for the last two months with no major issues. Yesterday, one of the barred rocks vanished. This is not a small bird, so I kind of expected to see signs of a struggle, but there was nothing. I wasn't home when she went MIA, and after checking all around the property I figured she was gone. Today, we had some storms roll through, so they've been hanging out back near the coop mostly and I can't see them. I have the window open, and I heard a wild turkey call (he's been hanging around in the woods for about a week or two now.) I went out to check on the birds and I'm missing another one. This time a buff orpington. All my buffs have been doing the squats so I know they're ready to lay. Here's my question. Is it possible that my ladies ran off after the wild turkey looking for love? I put my remaining chickens back in their pen until I figure out whats going on, but I would think if they were getting picked off by a predator I would have heard something or found a few feathers. These are pretty beefy birds, so I can't imagine a hawk or even an eagle would be able to fly far with one if at all.
Possible predators in my area are black bear, fox, coyote, raccoons, opossums, hawks, eagles, falcons, maybe neighbors dogs. I have only seen signs of bears lately.
Possible predators in my area are black bear, fox, coyote, raccoons, opossums, hawks, eagles, falcons, maybe neighbors dogs. I have only seen signs of bears lately.
To me it sounds as if you are dealing with a snatch and grab predator - fox, coyote, bobcat.
They now know where dinner is and will be back every day for the others. Can you put up a trail cam?
