Missing flock!!! Help please

[ronott1]

Yes! Assume it was a predator and check the learning center articles for predator proofing ideas

 

[Abriana]

I always have a special unique call that means great treats are coming. I always thought it would be helpful in this situation. If you find yours or get more, I suggest trying this. Train them young and keep reinforcing regularly.
I hope you find them

 

[cmom]

I think most people who raise poultry loose birds to predators. I have lost birds to coyotes, fox, bobcat and an owl. With each loss I tightened my security with my coops and pens. Heavy duty netting over the top of all of the pens to discourage the owls, concrete under the gates because of a fox, electric wire around the pens and coops for the coyotes, bobcats, possums and anything else that wants to dig or climb, they have to get by the electric first. I haven't lost a bird in a quite long time to a predator. I have game cameras around my property to see what critters are roaming around especially at night.

 

[Mrs. K]

The thing with predators, is once they find you, they come back, and back again.

Everything loves chickens. I think you got hit, then hit again. It sucks, I know it, been hit many times. Take a good look at your set up, and reinforce... like fort knox. so discouraging.

Mrs K

 

[NuggetLove]

That's terrible- to go away just to come back to heartache. I've only lost one hen for an hour and a half after a fox attack. Here's to hoping they return. Are they used to you calling them, and if so, do they respond by coming to you?

Yes. I’ll be calling and walking our property, along with our neighbors property too. I’m just getting on a plane and coming home now. This is the never ending trip to get home!!

 

[NuggetLove]

Do you give them treats? I have a special bucket and I talk to them when I'm treating them and they come right away for their treats. Just curious.

I’ll be doing this once we arrive home. I give them meal worms and whistle. Pavlovian dogish. Thank you!!!

 

[NuggetLove]

Do any of your friends or neighbors have a hunting dog? It would need to be restrained with a lead but it can potentially help with tracking.
If they came back before, they might again.

Great idea! I’ll ask around. Thank you

 

[NuggetLove]

So did your birds free range or does your henhouse have an attached run?

They free range. We live on a main road, but have over an acre that they’ve stayed to for the past three months. All of them disappeared tho. In one day!!!

 

[NuggetLove]

Pile of feathers likely means they were all massacred by a predator over a couple of nights. Posting pictures and describing the coop/run will help. If they free range with zero supervision, well that's just a death sentence.

Their coop is armored as I suspected something scratching on it. The pile of feathers was about 3 clumps of 5 feathers. No bodies. No blood. No evidence of hunting or dying.

 

[NuggetLove]

I think most people who raise poultry loose birds to predators. I have lost birds to coyotes, fox, bobcat and an owl. With each loss I tightened my security with my coops and pens. Heavy duty netting over the top of all of the pens to discourage the owls, concrete under the gates because of a fox, electric wire around the pens and coops for the coyotes, bobcats, possums and anything else that wants to dig or climb, they have to get by the electric first. I haven't lost a bird in a quite long time to a predator. I have game cameras around my property to see what critters are roaming around especially at night.
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Thanks so much. We have lights and lock them in the coop every night. Our neighbors who were watching them are on top of their game too. As they have chickens too. We have a fence around the coop.