Missing chicken

[pintail_drake2004]

So, Last night my fiancé and I went to put the chickens to bed shortly after sunset and noticed one of our golden laced polish hens was missing. I went and looked about quickly and didn't find any sign. This morning my fiancé left the rest of the hens in the pen and went looking for the polish and still didn't find any sign.
We trapped this past fall and winter to thin out the predators but with the beans in my field nearly 4' tall and 30 feet from the coop and run (and where we let them free range in the afternoons) I'm not too surprised something was able to sneak up and snatch one of our girls. I keep the area mowed between the coop and field to act as a buffer from predators, but it looks like I will need to do more. We typically let them free range from 2-8pm but I think we will keep them close and put them up a little early. I suppose I need to dust off the traps again. This has me a little pissed as that polish was my fiancés favorite hen and the 1st one we lost!

 

[sourland]

Be especially vigilant the next several days. As you probably know the predator will most likely return.

 

[pintail_drake2004]

I know it will. The fiancé is quite handy with a shotgun, and I reloaded some magnum loads that will do the trick within 70 yards. I'd prefer to use a rifle. Maybe on my days off, I'll break out the predator call and see if I can put a quick end to the chicken thief. I'll definitely set a dozen or 2 traps this afternoon after work.

 

[sourland]

When you mentioned the soybeans I figured that you were in a rural situation and almost suggested having a shotgun ready.

 

[Akrnaf2]

So, Last night my fiancé and I went to put the chickens to bed shortly after sunset and noticed one of our golden laced polish hens was missing. I went and looked about quickly and didn't find any sign. This morning my fiancé left the rest of the hens in the pen and went looking for the polish and still didn't find any sign.
We trapped this past fall and winter to thin out the predators but with the beans in my field nearly 4' tall and 30 feet from the coop and run (and where we let them free range in the afternoons) I'm not too surprised something was able to sneak up and snatch one of our girls. I keep the area mowed between the coop and field to act as a buffer from predators, but it looks like I will need to do more. We typically let them free range from 2-8pm but I think we will keep them close and put them up a little early. I suppose I need to dust off the traps again. This has me a little pissed as that polish was my fiancés favorite hen and the 1st one we lost!

Love your flint /stone arrow heds on your Avatar!
Clovis style?

 

[pintail_drake2004]

Yep, I grew up in the country with a shotgun by every door. Fiancé did not grow up that way, but took to it quickly! Now she has turned into a real Annie Oakley!

Akrnaf2: I made those Cahokia style points made from local cherts. They are my favorite style to knap.

 

[aart]

I'll break out the predator call and see if I can put a quick end to the chicken thief. I'll definitely set a dozen or 2 traps this afternoon after work.

Can't kill them all....do you have a secure run for the time being?
Good Luck!

 

[Ursuline Chick]

May I suggest more places for them to hide in the free range area. One thing we did was get a piece of fake plastic concrete, (that would have become landfill) and put it up on cinderblocks. Also provides shade on hot days. We are in the city, but I have had hawks sit on my wooden fence and eyeball my poor hens, A problem we never had when we could keep a rooster in residence. We also have citrus trees in the yard that they can use as cover (they are more like citrus bushes). Additional hen protection and myer lemons and blood oranges to boot. Just watch for the possums hideing in the trees at night. Do have to trap those bad boys. They are as bad as racoons.

 

[pintail_drake2004]

We have 3 roosters, one silver lace polish and 2 barred rocks, but that obviously wasn't enough to protect the hens. I may not be able to kill them all, but I made a substantial portion of my living with fur money over the years. I have the equipment and knowledge to no doubt can catch whatever it was.
I think I will keep them in my run for the a few days while I sort this out. We built a 600sq ft fully enclosed run, so the remaining 21 chickens should be comfortable there for a while.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Sounds like a plan, good luck.