HELP 9 chicks DISAPPEARED!!

[sarad]

We came home last night and 12 chicks were gone, no feathers no breech in the run just gone. We had told the kids to go out and close the coop at dusk and they forgot. Three came home when I went out to feed and water this morning but we can't find the missing 9 anywhere, we have walked the woods behind our property (we live in a suburb of the twin cities with an acre or so wide strip of public land behind our lot) I'm not sure how far they could go in 24 hours..... Do you think someone could have called animal control?

 

[JennsPeeps]

Animal control can't seize animals without reason or notice to the owner.

Could someone have stolen them?

How old are they? Have they learned to come to you when you call "here chick chick"?

They probably wouldn't wander too far, especially if you've been feeding them & they associate you with food.

Hang in there. Many people find wandering chickens when the animals get hungry/thirsty. It is possible that they've been taken by a predator but it's also possible they'll return.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

What prob happened is someone found them and are keeping them thinking that they were out there lost. I would as around and see if anyone may have them OR a hungry predator got to them and had a really good feast

LETS hope that's not what happened!

 

[porteryork]

Did you look up? It sounds silly but Rosie, our hamburg, loves to roost in the tree beside the coop. She gets pretty high.

I bet they will show back up one morning...... Good luck

 

[MissPrissy]

How old are the chicks? Do you leave them out to free range?

Many furry critters can carry off chicks without a trace.

 

[silkiechicken]

Yeah, if the coop was accidentally left open at night, and the chicks were small enough. A single coon or family of coons could come through and take nearly every last bird without a trace. I had a flock of nearly 20 adult birds disappear with only feathers left from the rooster and a few of the hens when a coon opened the door of our coop one winter.

 

[sarad]

Well I think we lost them

We have six chicks left and one has a broken thigh bone.... We have it splinted with

two of these that we cut, opened up so it doesn't cut off circulation, lined with gauze and taped around so her leg is straight. We have her suspended in a canning pot with her bad leg suspended thru the rack and her good leg gently tucked close to her body..... I hope she can be saved. She is eating and drinking and enjoying the Sweeney Todd soundtrack my 15 yr old is listening to in the kitchen on the counter. I also hope "she" is a "she" as I can't keep roosters in town, I hate for "her" to go thru all this only to end up dinner.

 

[jjthink]

Keep looking, looking, looking.......Being that they are so young, they could have very easily gotten lost and may have huddled in the smallest of spaces just about anywhere. I would also put up "LOST CHICKS" flyers right away if you can, with your contact info.

Too many sad stories with kids that innocently forget to shut the coop - the birds often pay a terrible price. I would have a very reliable adult in charge of this from here forward if you don't want the birds at risk.

Hope very much that you find them soon and that the little injured one fares well.

JJ

 

[Chickenaddict]

Quote:
Where abouts in the twin cities? I am in the northern suburbs and even tho we are not suppose to have ANY chickens unless your on 3 acres of land we and several people around the area have them, roosters as well. One of my hens disappeared last summer for over 24 hours leaving a few feathers behind so i assumed the worst and figured a predator had gotten to her. Nope wasn't the case she was out running through the neighborhood and one of the neighbor kids brought her back home to us. I really hope your little ones make it back to you. Don't give up hope yet anything is possible.