First deaths in my coop... what kills without a trace?

[Campine Lover]

Well, I'm feeling very depressed. Half of one chicken's body is paralized (I don't know what to do!!!!!) , one Modern Game Banty hen gone (Her name was Amber), my one and only (Kimberly, my all time favorite out of the coop) critically endangered Golden Campine hen (note my screen name; I only have one Campine. Correction; Had) is gone, and to wrap it all up the coop is covered in mites. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
Everything was fine one month ago. Then Missy the paralized one got paralized, and Amber the Modern disappeared. 2 days ago Kimberly the Campine was gone when my dad let them out when I was at a slumber party. I thought, "Well, maybe she's broody and has a secret nest." But she's NEVER EVER broody. And now my chicken keeping neighbors told my dad they lost a few, too. So... I thought... We are now dealing with a predator. But there was no trace at all. They all disapeared while free ranging. I've made the dicision to use chicken tractors instead of letting them free range sinc ethe disapearance. This is my first deaths in the coop; I've thought myself lucky because I have been keeping them for 1 1/2 years. But now almost all my favorites (and show birds!!!!) are gone. I feel like crying. Kimberly was special. She would come right into the house and jump on my lap. It's so UNFAIR!!!!!! SO, what predator kills without a trace?????????????????????????

 

[Tala]

hawks??
if they are disappearing while ranging, in the daytime, the predator list narrows considerably.

My maindaytime threats: Hawks and dogs. Dogs are messy, so the other option leaves hawks.
There's always human predators too, if your birds leave your property....don't know how rural you are or how your neighbor situation is.

 

[Campine Lover]

Hawks. Yikes, I forgot how many there were around here..... We are in a small but residential town on the outscirts of a big one. Kimberly was very naughty and was foraging further and further away from home.... but I just can't imagine people doing something like that. I guess a hawk makes sense. Ohhhhh, now it's my fault! I feel so guilty!

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

Do you have fox in the area. A fox will snatch one and not leave so much as a feather.

 

[chickee]

So Sorry!

They always seem to get your favorites!!!!!

I can't let my chickens free range anymore unless I'm outside and can keep an eye on them. I lost a rooster to a coyote and several chickens to a bob cat and this all happened during the daytime! The bob cat even went through the hotwire on the top of my chicken yard. I have never had banties, but I did loose a 3 week old chick to a hawk once.

 

[Campine Lover]

Kimberly is dead. Well, I thought it was impossible, but she had been brooding under the deck and the freakin racoons ate her. Found her beautiful feathers scattered across the yard this morning and broken eggs everwhere. I hate racoons. (well, the good thing is, I'm getting new chicks soon but I'd rather have HER!)

 

[Tala]

Quote:
Sounds like you need to start building "coop knox"

and maybe invest in a live trap.

 

[Campine Lover]

The racoons haven't been here in a LONG time. But you know, my dad calls our coop Fort Knox.... racoons by the coop, makes me worried, but I mean, can a racoon really unlock 7 locks? (3 doors...) I need to make a better foraging area so they don't disappear in daytime. I am slowly getting used to the fact she is gone. I've order 5 from Nature's Hatchery, and they should be here mid may. Wish them luck! One is a golden campine which I will call Kimberly.