Lost a chick

Jurassic Wolf

Songster
Jun 27, 2018
159
155
111
NJ
we have 5 six week old female chicks, and 1 8 week old male chick. We went on a vacation and our grandmother took care of the chicks. When we came back we locked the chicks in the upstairs part of their coop. We didn't count them because it was late and the chicks had gone to bed. When I came down the next morning their were only 5 chicks. One of the hens got out. We live across the street from a forest where a family of foxes live. Is there a chance the chick is still alive?
 
I've had chickens be very smart and hide well. Chicks can also fly higher and better than their adult counterparts, so it's possible the chick could be hiding somewhere up high.

Did you find the chick at all today?
 
It could be possible that she's gone although I've lost chickens and they have ended up returning. Do you have them in a pen or run?
 
Update: we lost another chick a few days ago, we have determined that the thing getting them is either a fox or a racoon. A friend was taking care of them while we were gone. The first day we left our favorite chick was taken. This time there was evidence of struggle though. There were feathers in the backyard. Our friend's dad has set up a bunch of cameras and locks and bungee cords all over the chick's coop. Hopefully no more of our pets will be taken :hit:hit:hit
 
Clubhouse8553-2.jpg
they do not free range and are in this , with a second run added on all day. Does any one have tips on further predator proofing? There are bungees securing the top closed. The door to nesting box is locked, and bungeed. (that's not a word) The door to the upstairs part is also locked. And the doors are super hard to open due to some faulty installation in the setup process. :)p oops)
 
So sorry! Any opening larger than 1/2" diameter will admit rats and weasels. Is there a dig-proof barrier around the pen to prevent tunneling?
Were any doors forced open, or hardware cloth ripped off?
I can't enlarge the picture to see what things really look like either.
Mary
 
the first time the door to the upstairs part was open (we lock them up there at night), but the second time there was nothing. There is hardware cloth on the bottom. The second time nothing was out of place.
 

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