Lost chickies

[chickadeedeedee]

Something is snatching up my chicks. I live in an urban area, have an acre fenced with privacy fencing. I bought 6 chicks when they were 2 weeks old, they are now 6 weeks. I started putting them outside to roam in the backyard for a couple of hours (while I gardened in same backyard). Since then I have lost two chicks! No feathers, nothing. I have two boxers but they were inside both times. Today was when I lost my second chick, a larger female almost completly feathered out. I turned my back for a few minutes and she was gone, the remaining four covered under a rosebush I have scared to death. Wouldn't I know if a hawk was snatching them up? Could it be a squirrel? We have several squirrlels, or maybe a Grackle?

Please let me know what ya'll think

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

It's entirely possible a hawk is grabbing them...mainly because you wouldn't hear the bird swoop down.

 

[suburbanminifarm]

Oh dear....daytime.....quiet......no evidence left.....sounds like a hawk to me especially since they are still small enough to fly away with
Do a search on this forum, some people have had success with hanging cd's, hawk scaring balloons, scary stuffed animals, and huge fake owls with moving wings, guard dogs, etc

 

[mdbokc]

Yep, all it takes is a turned back and you'd never see it. They are completely silent.

 

[chickadeedeedee]

really ya'll think its a hawk??? I know we have several in the area but recently I haven't seen any right overhead, also we have two large oaks in the backyard so not much sky space. Here I have been blaming the squirrels/grackles/blue jays and just convincing myself that it couldn't be a hawk or I would have seen/heard it. No feathers/down nothing! Not anything left behind showing that a bird was attacked.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

That's part of it. They don't start dismembering until they are safely away from danger. You wouldn't see any damage left behind.

 

[chickadeedeedee]

sheesh ya can tell my boxers aren't "guard" dogs! My DH told me it was probably a hawk but I usually see them circling over the neighborhood and haven't during both of these dissapperances.

I know ya'll are right but it sure is easier to blame something I can see all the time eh?

 

[chickadeedeedee]

Now I am going to have to be very diligent on letting my lil chickies out only when I know that I can sit and watch them or hurry my dh up on the coop he's building. (not telling him but I just ordered 15 more chickies so I definately want it to be safe out back)

 

[chickadeedeedee]

Thank ya'll for responding and letting me know that it is probably a hawk.

 

[maizie]

I have bluejays which make quite a fuss when the hawks are near. The chickens listen to the bluejays and other birds too.