Missing Bared Rock pullet

[DS17]

Hi! I am new to the chicken world! I started having chickens in May. 13 pullets ranging in age from 18 weeks to 8 weeks. I also have 1 cockerel. We have 6 acres but our house and yard sit on 3. They free range, manly on about one acre at this point. We have lived in this house 6 years and have seen some Hawks and skunks. Yesterday, I noticed in the afternoon that one of the barred rocks is missing. We have searched the surrounding areas, looked in trees and tall grass. There is not a trace of her, no mess of feathers or anything. Any idea what kind of predator could make a chicken disappear without a trace? I knew I would have losses since they free range. I'm bummed it happened so early into my chicken experience

 

[GitaBooks]

I'm sorry to hear that.

Foxes and cats catch chickens and carry them away, while raccoons and hawks are more likely to eat then on the spot, or at least pluck them. Skunks and opossums tend to go after eggs or chicks more than adults. Stray dogs just like to chase chickens and don't tend to carry them away.

This isn't that likely, but it just be that she has decided to go broody! Most don't go this early, but when they do go broody they disappear without a trace.


I hope she shows up. Best of luck!

 

[Kylea0219]

So sorry for your lost Chickie. I lost two last week because of a stray dog. One with a puff of feathers the other is just gone. 4 were missing at first and two came back within a few hours. Hopefully yours is just hiding some where. My girls also free range I knew it would happen some time but it still feels terrible to lose any of them. I am fencing in an area for them so when I am not home I can feel a little better about leaving them out. I'll let them free range when I am home only from now on because the dog is still out there. It's been around every once and a while since December so I decided better safe than sorry.

 

[DS17]

Thanks for the reply's! I doubt she has gone broody due to her age. It could have been a cat. My neighbor doesn't like to neuter her cats because they live off a busy road and she doesn't want to spend the money only to have the cat get hit by a car :/ I double checked with my other neighbor who has chickens to see if my chicke ended up over there for some reason. My neighbor list a duck off their lagoon, with no trace of body or feathers.
So sorry Kylea for your losses. What a pain to have to put up a fence, but you are right, better safe than sorry!