Missing Chickens

[KJCHens]

Hello! We let our 15 hens out of their coop to run around, a couple days ago. We haven't had any problems with losing any ever since we got them, a year and a half ago. Nothing was out of the normal, but when I went down to put the chickens away I came across a pile of feathers sitting in the grass. As I went into the coop to count how many there were, I realized that four of the 15 chickens were missing. I went out and looked around the grounds and found 3 more piles of feathers all in different places of the yard. Only the feathers were left, there was no blood, no bones, nothing. There was no sign of struggle, just a pile of feathers. We think that all of this took place within an hour or two. We are not sure what got the chickens because there are no signs left behind. Today we saw a raccoon running on the road, which is totally out of the normal. Would a raccoon come and get one chicken, drag it off, and then come back for more? It would be helpful to hear any similar stories or thoughts to figure out what is going on. We hope to not lose anymore of our lovely hens.

 

[gamebirdsonly]

Sorry for your lose. If your seeing Raccons it is possiable that is what got them or many other pedators like hawks or fox.

 

[redlinda1]

Raccoons should not be out during the day time. Could have been a chicken hawk.

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas and

! Pleased you joined us but sorry to hear about your four lost birds. Nothing so infuriating as that! Unsure what your predator could have been - perhaps even coyote or fox - they sometimes make daytime raids. I lost one duck and two chickens over the span of three days a couple years back to a coyote. The dog in my avatar ended that nonsense.

 

[KJCHens]

That was what we thought too, but we saw a raccoon at 5:30 this evening. If it was a hawk, would it take a chicken, not leave any remains, and then come back right away for another?

 

[drumstick diva]

I've seen a hawk pluck a wild bird and not leave anything behind but the feathers and beak ( it was a cardinal)

 

[sourland]

Sounds like the snatch and run tactics of a fox, coyote, or bobcat. They are feeding young now, and be assured that whatever it was, it will return. Protect your remaining birds.