Lost half flock to coyote attack

[schutzme22]

Hello,
we had 13 layers in a coop with a run and buried hardware cloth. Cut them loose during the day and return @ dusk to shut them up. Never lost any to predators until this morning.
My daughter and brother were meeting friends at the shop where the chickens are kept at 6:30 am to go to hunting property. I asked them to open the gate to let the girls out, planning to go mid morning to tend them.
When I got there it was a massacre. Recovered 8 dead, searched and called for the others to no avail
My question; will the survivors (if there are any) come back to roost at dusk?
My fear is they are so traumatized they won't and surely all be lost over night.
Thanks for any help.

 

[jvls1942]

chickens being the birds of prey that they are soon forget the attack and go back to their normal routine .
there are no long term reactions to what just happened.
if there are some who got scattered, they probably will show up sometime during the day or like you say, at dusk to get into the coop.
I wouldn't expect all of them to come back.
......jiminwisc.

 

[schutzme22]

chickens being the birds of prey that they are soon forget the attack and go back to their normal routine .
there are no long term reactions to what just happened.
if there are some who got scattered, they probably will show up sometime during the day or like you say, at dusk to get into the coop.
I wouldn't expect all of them to come back.
......jiminwisc.

 

[schutzme22]

Thank you for your reply. Edited my original post, to; recovered 8 dead. Such a huge hit. Hoping to have a couple return. Fingers crossed.

 

[jvls1942]

schutsme22,
write your reply first and then hit
the post reply box.

 

[BYC910]

Welcome to BYC I'm sorry for your loss. Chickens are masters at hiding . If they aren't scared they may come back to roost . You should be there calling at least an hour before dark or at what you know to be their regular roost time .They will find the thickest place they can find and lay very still. coming out only when the know the predator isn't around . I hope you can find some of them. It really sounds more like a dog attack than a coyote to me . Whatever it is set up trail cams and kill it if you can .

 

[schutzme22]

Welcome to BYC I'm sorry for your loss. Chickens are masters at hiding . If they aren't scared they may come back to roost . You should be there calling at least an hour before dark or at what you know to be their regular roost time .They will find the thickest place they can find and lay very still. coming out only when the know the predator isn't around . I hope you can find some of them. It really sounds more like a dog attack than a coyote to me . Whatever it is set up trail cams and kill it if you can .

Welcome to BYC I'm sorry for your loss. Chickens are masters at hiding . If they aren't scared they may come back to roost . You should be there calling at least an hour before dark or at what you know to be their regular roost time .They will find the thickest place they can find and lay very still. coming out only when the know the predator isn't around . I hope you can find some of them. It really sounds more like a dog attack than a coyote to me . Whatever it is set up trail cams and kill it if you can .

 

[schutzme22]

Thank you, I will go early and call for them. We are having cameras installed Wednesday. So awful to have raised them from 2 day old chicks.. heartbreaking.

 

[BYC910]

Thank you, I will go early and call for them. We are having cameras installed Wednesday. So awful to have raised them from 2 day old chicks.. heartbreaking.

Yes it is I know Not all but most of us have been there . I never let mine out without being with them .If you free range it's a chance you take . I hope the cameras help you get what ever it is .

 

[centrarchid]

If coyote if even dog I would have my butt out there patrolling about to make certain the predator does not come back to police up remaining birds whether they are dead or alive.

Always stay with them until the come up even if it takes a couple of hours!

It is very likely you simply interrupted their picking up carcasses by doing your own checking.