Missing Chickens

[cmom]

It was our own dogs...and they were eliminated....it was our fault it happened but we’re still torn up about it..

That is hard. I don't blame you. I would feel the same way. Good luck...

 

[cmom]

Ours are all fully feathered and been off heat for about 2-3 weeks. We started letting them out in an enclosed pen at about 5 weeks. I think they are either dead in the woods or the neighbors claimed them.
it was our own fault the dogs got them but they are free ranging we need to get an electric fence just not in the budget currently

I use electric wires which work great. The biggest expense is a good fence charger. If it is too weak a dog or predator will figure it out that it just hurts a little bit and go through it. I want anything that touches my hot wires to know it. Again good luck...

 

[CincyChickFarm]

We had 2 dogs massacre half our flock.
After we started collecting bodies some chickens came out from hiding.
One of our larger cockerels came back with 4 Pullets and a few other cockerels - we were proud of him as we plan on him being our main rooster.
2 more came out of hiding after a few hours but now it’s been almost 24 hours and we’re still missing 5 chickens.
We live on heavy densely wooded land and with them being out all night and not returning this morning should we give up hope?
They are 8 weeks old.
My husband has lost hope and says the wood critters have ate them or they are now woods chickens.
I just want the rest to return safely instead of being picked off in the woods.
Are odds good they will come back? Or are they probably all dead?

 

[CincyChickFarm]

I had a hen stay gone for 4 days and nights after a predator attack. She is my favorite hen, the most affectionate and my best layer. She was clucking loudly in the front yard, standing in the porchlight to wake me up at 3 AM after a bad thunderstorm. She was upset but otherwise seemed to be in good health. If they can, they will return home. Although they have many predators they are intelligent and live in the wild in some places around the globe. Best wishes to you.

 

[cmom]

I'm sad to say at 8 weeks old something has probably gotten them.

 

[HeathenHavenHomestead]

I had a hen stay gone for 4 days and nights after a predator attack. She is my favorite hen, the most affectionate and my best layer. She was clucking loudly in the front yard, standing in the porchlight to wake me up at 3 AM after a bad thunderstorm. She was upset but otherwise seemed to be in good health. If they can, they will return home. Although they have many predators they are intelligent and live in the wild in some places around the globe. Best wishes to you.

Well we have a storm coming in today maybe someone will come back home literally all our favorites were killed or missing except our main cockerel. He saved 4 hens, has a few missing feathers, no wounds and came outta the woods with them in tow. We were very proud of him and it solidifies even more to us how he’s gonna be the daddy Roo of the flock.

 

[CincyChickFarm]

I hadn't caught that they were 8 weeks old. I thought it was months. I keep my chicks penned or cooped until they are nearly full grown and they stop chirping like chicks, sound more like a hen.

The hawks are so bad here and I lost a half-grown one once. They can take off with them if they're not very big.

They also need time with the flock to learn survival skills. If you don't have a rooster to keep watch and protect them, one of your more dominant hens will take over that role.

I'm sorry for your loss. Mine are loved. They are more than pets for me even though I've tried not to get so attached.

 

[HeathenHavenHomestead]

I hadn't caught that they were 8 weeks old. I thought it was months. I keep my chicks penned or cooped until they are nearly full grown and they stop chirping like chicks, sound more like a hen.

The hawks are so bad here and I lost a half-grown one once. They can take off with them if they're not very big.

They also need time with the flock to learn survival skills. If you don't have a rooster to keep watch and protect them, one of your more dominant hens will take over that role.

I'm sorry for your loss. Mine are loved. They are more than pets for me even though I've tried not to get so attached.

We have a few cockerels and our largest one seems to be looking out for the rest. We had them pinned until they ate all the undergrowth in their area and started flying out to get the green growth on the other side so we started letting them out to forage and they do fantastic.
The attack was our fault comepletely and our overgrown woods are so dense I can’t hardly see them sometimes.
The rest probably were picked off by raccoons or the dogs ate them and we didn’t know.