Missing chicken others distressed???

[ChickyMama207]

We just started fully free ranging our chickens about a week and a half ago. So far they’ve all done really well. I got home from a short trip out and all of a sudden one is missing. Of course it’s one we “tagged” as a forever pet. The remaining 9 have started “crying out” - best way I can describe it. It sounds similar to an egg song but much more “urgent” sounding and they keep looking all in the same direction while they do it. My girls are BOs and are 2 1/2 months old. Is it an egg song - if so they seem a bit young and it’s all of a sudden set in on ALL of them...even the ones that aren’t as far along developmentally as the rest.....
Any ideas? Also, how does one go about finding a missing chicken?

 

[sourland]

It sounds as if your bird has fallen prey to a predator. Check in the direction that the rest of the flock is looking for signs of her. Until you figure out what is happening I would put the flock back in their pen. Good luck.

 

[keesmom]

I agree, a predator paid a visit. They are showing you which direction to look for clues.

 

[ChickyMama207]

We are generally predator free. We have squirrels and chipmunks and that’s it. My grandfather in law has a jack russell terrier that sometimes wanders up to our house. I’m wondering if she got her...and if so, I’m going to be super annoyed. After all it’s MY forever chicken. Luckily it wasn’t my daughter’s.

 

[keesmom]

You are in Maine? Trust me, you have plenty of predators even if you haven't seen them. Various hawk species, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, skunks at the very least and depending on exactly where you are also mink, weasels, fishers, bobcats and bears.

At just 10 weeks of age your birds are still small enough for one of the larger hawk species to fly off with one. Could possibly be fox, but in my experience they would have taken more than just one.

 

[ChickyMama207]

Yes we are in Maine and I know we have those types of predators in our state however, where we live the chances of those are relatively small besides a raccoon. She went missing in broad daylight so I’m not thinking it was a raccoon. There is also no sign of a struggle in any way. No feathers, no blood. Haven’t found a body anywhere. I have read a few articles in the past and stories about people having their chicken come back in a few days after exploring the neighborhood.

 

[aart]

No feathers, no blood.

Fox or coyote.
Most anything else would leave a mess.
Had a fox take a run at the run(haha) was foiled but caused enough of a certain tone of ruckus I went down and looked, fox was sitting in field 20' from run just looking.
Not the first time I've seen that happen.

 

[Rldad1]

Put a camera up and you may be shocked what you see. You have lots of predators even if you live in the city.

 

[keesmom]

Yes we are in Maine and I know we have those types of predators in our state however, where we live the chances of those are relatively small besides a raccoon.

You have more than just raccoons. Believe me. And now that you have chickens you will definitely be seeing more of them. Everything loves a chicken dinner.

If it was a fox count yourself lucky you only lost one. I've lost 15+ at once, in the middle of the day, to foxes and coyotes.

 

[Meangel]

Yes we are in Maine and I know we have those types of predators in our state however, where we live the chances of those are relatively small besides a raccoon. She went missing in broad daylight so I’m not thinking it was a raccoon. There is also no sign of a struggle in any way. No feathers, no blood. Haven’t found a body anywhere. I have read a few articles in the past and stories about people having their chicken come back in a few days after exploring the neighborhood.

hawk, maybe. They will carry them off...no sign.