Human predator...I think

[rooster0209]

I am missing two of the prettier BLRW, one SLW and one RIR. I think the BLRW were probably roosters and the other two were pullets. The new black aust were left alone as my other mixed breeds.

I shut the gate on the coop each night but leave the doors open. The birds are all roosting and if an animal could get inside they couldnt get out of the coop or run with the carcass. DH & I have walked the trees and cannot find a single trace of any kind. These birds free range during the day and I am home. There are lots of noisy guineas and I have barking dogs so no predators attacked them during the day. I would think a predator would leave behind alot of feathers or something. The only other option would be a bald eagle...but they spend lots of time under the trees eating whatever.

It was really hot last week when they went missing. Our windows are closed and A/C is on. Someone could easily come up the back road, walk into the yard, access the coop (I even have a light on in there for the brooder box) and take some birds with out us ever hearing them. It is easy to drive slow down the road and see all the farmers who have chickens out in their yards.

 

[Camelot Farms]

I think that this is the worst type of predator!

Animals are just doing what animals do....the human predator has a choice.

I hope that you figure it out.

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

There is not always feather or mess to be found when raptors take birds. But did they all go missing the same day? That to me would point more to a human, where as one going missing a day would point more to the critters. Padlock your gates and coop human doors and put up signs saying the area has cameras, or if you can afford it put a web cam on the area via a wireless link. That way you will find out what is doing it.

 

[4 Love of Baby Chickens]

Try putting a heavy concrete block against the coop door and sprinkle alot of flour in front of the door. If the block is moved while the door was being opened and there are human footprints in the flour then you'll know that you have a human stealing your chickens and it's not a coon or some other type of preditor.

 

[Buster52]

S S S! S S S!

ETA...
Just kidding, of course. You should check your local laws and ordinances first to make sure it is legal in your area.