Missing Chickens

[Nicole_Hutchison]

I have had chickens for about 3 years. We have had some losses, but every time I had a loss, I could tell what happened - big pile of feathers were left behind, I could see the remains, etc. About 3 weeks ago 18 of my chickens went missing. This was DEVASTATING after raising them diligently for 6 weeks, spending time with them daily, kids getting attached to them, naming them all, etc. Also, the breeds I picked were "special" (to me) - hand selected from a hatchery, colors were even hand selected, etc. Anyways, big loss...and we never figured out what happened...how do 18 of my younger chickens go missing without 1 feather left behind. At that point, I was left with 7 of my younger chickens and 5 of the older chickens (existing flock). 2 days ago it was time for my 3 marans and 1 orpington to be outside with the rest of my flock - they were about 7 weeks old. After integrating the 4 new chickens with my existing flock for a week, I left them outside 2 days ago. Today I went outside to check on them and give a watermelon treat and the 4 new "babies" (again, 7 weeks old) are missing. How does this happen? 18 chickens younger chickens missing 3 weeks ago and 2 days after I put my new littles outside they go missing within 2 days? I am unsure if a predator is doing this or if someone new in the neighborhood (or workers) are stealing my chickens! Anyone have this happen before? Suggestions? We are going to put up a camera night, but I can't figure out how this is happening!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Photos of set up? Are they all just free ranging or in a run?

Human theft is always a possibility. For the time being it'd be best (assuming you have a run) to keep the birds locked up, literally - padlocks and all.

 

[iwltfum]

I suspect a predator. I feel like you would have noticed if someone was chasing your chickens around the yard.

Back when I lived in SW Colorado, I had 20 or 30, 4 week old broilers in a loosely closed outbuilding INSIDE of a pasture pen, so two layers of protection and I went out one morning to find the doors to the shed pushed open, the lid to the pen knocked to the side, and every single chicken gone without a trace. I looked high and low and far. I looked everywhere within a 1/2 miles radius of that outbuilding and never found any evidence of chickens. I eventually found a couple of dead birds in the rafters of the building? Strangest day ever, but when I talked to some neighbors about it they knew immediately that it was either a bobcat or a young mountain lion.

I'm not sure where you are located or what time of day the incident happened, but middle of the day attacks are usually hawks or eagles. I've also had some eagle and hawk pressure in Maine, where I live now, and sometimes it can be really hard to tell if one has stole off with a chicken. I've found on multiple occasions a single clump of feathers with skin attached and had to assume that an eagle/hawk got one. With young chickens, they could easily disappear without a trace in a few minutes to a hungry raptor.

 

[aart]

how do 18 of my younger chickens go missing

How old were they?

Photos of set up? Are they all just free ranging or in a run?

Human theft is always a possibility. For the time being it'd be best (assuming you have a run) to keep the birds locked up, literally - padlocks and all.

Ditto Dat^^^

 

[Nicole_Hutchison]

Photos of set up? Are they all just free ranging or in a run?

Human theft is always a possibility. For the time being it'd be best (assuming you have a run) to keep the birds locked up, literally - padlocks and all.

I will send a pic of the setup. They free range during the day on a couple acres and then come the coop at night.

 

[Nicole_Hutchison]

About 10 weeks old.

 

[Nicole_Hutchison]

Chickens were

10 weeks old

 

[keesmom]

Foxes and coyotes can wipe out a large number of birds in a short amount of time and leave nothing behind. Lost a dozen large fowl hens to a fox this time last year, in the middle of the day. Only a feather left here or there.