I'm a horrible chicken Mom. . . .

[happychicken2435]

dont feel bad, you do have 49 chickens after all

 

[Peppercorngal]

Don’t feel too bad. I think I lost one and didn’t notice for about 2 days or two weeks, not sure which lol. I went from 36 to 35 and couldnt figure when or how.
So I used an extra rooster (I have 7 in my flock) and used him as live bait in a dog cage tonight.
Mr fox came to visit shortly after dark and, happy to say, did not go home.
After verifying my kill, I checked on the roo and put him back in with the rest.
I intend to do this every couple weeks to keep an eye on predators.
Might be something for you to look into also

I have trail cameras around the fenced in run and haven't seen any big predators. Just the siamese cat that wanders through. This cat comes during the day as well and is no threat. It's a big mystery as to where she went.

 

[CrazyTownChick]

Yesterday I finally realized (must have been two days) I'm missing a chicken from the flock! I've been leaving the coop doors open because of the heat and it makes me very nervous to do so. I finally went out and counted everyone tonight and yes, one of my wyandotte's is missing. I immediately freaked and looked in the chicken food shed. Once I locked a chicken in there all night and half the next day before I opened it to feed the birds. She was fine. It's been 100 to 106 daily and I thought if I shut her in the shed she would be dead in hours. Well, I checked and she isn't there. I knew she wouldn't be there as I was in there early today. Tonight I counted everyone and she is the only one missing. How horrible of me to have not noticed until today. I'm a bad chicken Mom. I have (now) 40 grown chickens and 9 eight week old chickens. I feel really bad for her. We have fox, coyote, racoons, and the worst, bears. I haven't heard or seen anything and my dog has not alerted to anything either. I have a 7 foot fence around the two coops and was hoping they would be safe. I could kick myself. Just wanted to share with y'all, don't be like me. Maybe best to count every night!!!

So sorry!
Well, if you have 49 chickens, I could see how you could easily lose track of one! That's a lot!
You're not a bad chicken mom, just a normal human, I think. I know how you must feel, I'd be kicking myself too.
Does the 7 foot fence have a cover to protect from hawks? Do they free range during the day? Just curious. Also, do you actually have bears nearby or just that you've heard of sitings? It seems like bears would take predator proofing to a whole new level. And a bear wouldn't take just one, would it?
Give yourself a break -- you obviously have been doing a great job taking care of your large flock. Maybe just take it as a lesson learned?

 

[Peppercorngal]

Could she be sitting on eggs somewhere?

I have had 4 broody hens this summer. Only one is still at it, the rest gave up. I thought that maybe she was broody, but there is no place to hide. The enclosed free range area doesn't have bushes or places for her to hide. Only the "playpen" and she is not there. The coops have "skirts" so she can't get under either of them. They roost 7 feet up and I don't see how any predator could get to them, I certainly can't!!

 

[Peppercorngal]

So sorry!
Well, if you have 49 chickens, I could see how you could easily lose track of one! That's a lot!
You're not a bad chicken mom, just a normal human, I think. I know how you must feel, I'd be kicking myself too.
Does the 7 foot fence have a cover to protect from hawks? Do they free range during the day? Just curious. Also, do you actually have bears nearby or just that you've heard of sitings? It seems like bears would take predator proofing to a whole new level. And a bear wouldn't take just one, would it?
Give yourself a break -- you obviously have been doing a great job taking care of your large flock. Maybe just take it as a lesson learned?

I have two coops and each one has a completely covered run. I would normally shut and lock the coop doors as well as the run doors at night. Because our coops do not have windows (just lots of vents) I have been leaving the coop doors open at night because of the heat. Last night at midnight it was still 90 degrees. I do go out after dark and be sure they are all "in bed" in their coops and I do shut the run doors, not sure why I do that! We don't have hawks around much and the coops are under large oak trees. They know to run under the trees if one comes by, which is rare. Outside of the two coops and runs is the 7 foot farm fence to keep coyotes, and stray dogs from running in and getting a chicken during the day. It's a huge space, about the size of half a football field. A predator would have to climb the fence, go into the coop, climb up to the 7 foot roost and grab and chicken and get back out without setting off any one of three trail cameras we have. Or the noise alerting our Husky who is very protective. We do have bears and in 2017 we lost our flock to three bears that came many nights and actually tore the door off of the coop. I lost all my 20 chickens with the exception of Myrtle Mae who I found paralyzed with fear. She didn't move and that is what saved her. I still have her today. We do all we can to keep them safe, but we are human and sh*t happens, right? After the bear attack my husband and son rebuilt the coops with no windows and steel doors. We have seen bears, but they have not broken in again.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

They roost 7 feet up and I don't see how any predator could get to them, I certainly can't!!

Very sorry for your loss!

I agree the fact you noticed one missing in a group that large indicates quite the opposite of being a bad chicken parent, but rather a loving devoted one!

Raccoon can climb quite well. But please don't under estimate or forget the power of the owl family with several varieties being hunters at night.

Without knowing if she disappeared during the night or day.. a hawk is also a good suspect.. and the most common one who leave NO traces at my place.

I've only lost birds to aerial predators so far.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Sorry about your chicken. Don’t beat yourself up about it. This heat has been awful. My coop and run is completely secure and I have been such a chicken about their safety I am so OCD about it that I probably have made them suffer more in the heat by closing them up when I could have left my coop door open to let them get cooler air in their. I just get so afraid something will happen beyond my control if they aren’t behind that big bad safe door. Ah! Who knows ! But I hope we get a break soon! I think the heat has fried all of our brains for now! And our emotions!

The heat is the reason I'm leaving the doors open. It does not cool off at night and at midnight last night it was still 90 degrees. It was 106 yesterday. I'm really looking forward to fall! Now we are surrounded by fire. This morning my deck and patio furniture back and front is covered with ash. We had a strange smoke sunset last night! The good thing is the heat can't last forever, now can it? NO............

 

[Peppercorngal]

Very sorry for your loss!

I agree the fact you noticed one missing in a group that large indicates quite the opposite of being a bad chicken parent, but rather a loving devoted one!

Raccoon can climb quite well. But please don't under estimate or forget the power of the owl family with several varieties being hunters at night.

Without knowing if she disappeared during the night or day.. a hawk is also a good suspect.. and the most common one who leave NO traces at my place.

I've only lost birds to aerial predators so far.

You know I never thought of Owls. I haven't heard any or seen any, but of course that doesn't mean they aren't around. I guess it would be possible for them to get through the door without setting off the trail cameras. They are set up for walking predators, not flying ones. Hawks have never been a problem here. They are around very seldom. But I would think it would cause quite a commotion in the coop and it's been quiet at night. ?????

 

[CrazyTownChick]

I have two coops and each one has a completely covered run. I would normally shut and lock the coop doors as well as the run doors at night. Because our coops do not have windows (just lots of vents) I have been leaving the coop doors open at night because of the heat. Last night at midnight it was still 90 degrees. I do go out after dark and be sure they are all "in bed" in their coops and I do shut the run doors, not sure why I do that! We don't have hawks around much and the coops are under large oak trees. They know to run under the trees if one comes by, which is rare. Outside of the two coops and runs is the 7 foot farm fence to keep coyotes, and stray dogs from running in and getting a chicken during the day. It's a huge space, about the size of half a football field. A predator would have to climb the fence, go into the coop, climb up to the 7 foot roost and grab and chicken and get back out without setting off any one of three trail cameras we have. Or the noise alerting our Husky who is very protective. We do have bears and in 2017 we lost our flock to three bears that came many nights and actually tore the door off of the coop. I lost all my 20 chickens with the exception of Myrtle Mae who I found paralyzed with fear. She didn't move and that is what saved her. I still have her today. We do all we can to keep them safe, but we are human and sh*t happens, right? After the bear attack my husband and son rebuilt the coops with no windows and steel doors. We have seen bears, but they have not broken in again.

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Wow, that leaves me speechless. Again all I can say is you are doing an excellent job protecting your flock. I guess a loss is bound to happen sooner or later and yes, sh*t happens, life happens. Keep up the good work of outsmarting the MANY predators you have to deal with!

 

[thepick4uchicks]

You know I never thought of Owls. I haven't heard any or seen any, but of course that doesn't mean they aren't around. I guess it would be possible for them to get through the door without setting off the trail cameras. They are set up for walking predators, not flying ones. Hawks have never been a problem here. They are around very seldom. But I would think it would cause quite a commotion in the coop and it's been quiet at night. ?????

We hear them at night all the time after dark before we got chickens. However, we had never seen any especially any with any size to them during evening light hours like 5:30pm in the afternoon but we did this week and that sent our blood to boiling because it was just south of our coop actually still on our property lines but in the air where we saw them flying. Not good and not by mistake or just coincidence that they were there either. They were checking out the coop and it’s reinforced areas to see what was there worth the taking and the risk of trying to see if they could find a way into. They cannot get into our coop or run. No birds or predators will be able to except for a small snake -very tiny and a tiny rodent if possible at all. It’s tight. But they will all atempt you can bet. I check it all anyway everyday just Incase to make sure nothing has done any digging from outside like an excavating hen and an animal that has gotten by us into our fence over night but that is unlikely with our cameras,sensors, and good ole dogs. I sure am sorry you have had such heat worse even than ours which is awful. I am sorry for your losses as well. I pray your others and you remain safe.