flock missing - no signs!

[Mattemma]

Sorry for your loss.I started with just 3 too. Would stand out there in the rain and cold while they free ranged just to protect them.Now I have 7 and a roo,and it is his job to stand in the cold.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Gee, I don't know about that. It would take a pretty large bird of prey to be able to lift and fly off with a standard size chicken. We watched a quite large redtail hawk eat a squirrel in our front yard recently. A squirrel weighs a lot less than a chicken, but this hawk didn't try to fly away with its meal, just ate it right in front of us.

 

[critterrun]

I would ask around if anybody saw them

they might be next door and they did not do a count so dont know yet

HOPE HOPE HOPE HOPE

I have some that where not mine come and go from a few houses away
when they did not put out food

they would come over to my house for a visit

I did tell them they did not care

lets hope they went on vac and will be back soon
mybe something scared them and they went next door

 

[Symboline]

So sorry for your loss... I hope they are just exploring the woods and come back home real soon...
Quote:

 

[vmdanielsen]

Quote:
Gee, I don't know about that. It would take a pretty large bird of prey to be able to lift and fly off with a standard size chicken. We watched a quite large redtail hawk eat a squirrel in our front yard recently. A squirrel weighs a lot less than a chicken, but this hawk didn't try to fly away with its meal, just ate it right in front of us.

I big ol' red tail swooped in and tried to one of my hens. The red tail tried to fly away but the hen while running to get away, stuck her head though the smallest square in the electric poultry netting. Her neck feathers acted like an anchor and prevented the hawk from air lifting her out as was his intent. Left her with very long, bloody talon marks on her back. She has recovered nicely.

Buff, I hope they show up soon!

 

[buffy_the_egg_layer]

thanks, everyone, for the well wishes. my second search and rescue mission is about to start... i will let you all know how it works out. first stop - the neighbors hen house!

 

[onthespot]

Coyotes can easily clear a six foot fence.

 

[boykin2010]

What breeds were your hens? Were they worth Any money? 2 legged predators are the worst kind and don't think twice about grabbing a valuable chicken. This happened to some people I know.
Could someone easily get into your yard? It could be possible a person stole them

 

[smarsh]

if there are no feathers, it is unlikely they were killed there. a hawk leaves an awful mess. coyotes may not leave as much, but there would be signs. i guess humans

sorry

 

[flowergirl60]

My thoughts are exactly with boykin. That was the first thing that came to mind. So sorry. Keep us posted.