Missing flock!!! Help please

[Sinful chick]

I have tears just thinking about that. Breaks my heart because I love my (only 3) babies! I lost one, my beloved Cooper in February, and I still cry when I think of him. Just please know I’m thinking of you.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I've read a lot of these discussions. The clumps of feathers does seem to indicate that at least one has been taken. But the others very well could have been scared enough to go into hiding.

One person said he found some chickens under a rotting log and other similar little caverns you wouldn't think a chicken would be able to access. They hid because they were scared. The lingering effect of a flock mate getting attacked or killed is profound. I've read that some can hide for days.

But I've also read that predators often leave few traces. The thunderstorms, however, combined with the possibility of at least one having been grabbed, gives me hope that some may be out there, waiting for you to find them.

Mine are able to squeeze under the deck through some very small openings. Fear would probably help get them tucked inside an even smaller space if the urgency is there.

Please keep us updated. I can only imagine your heartbreak and how agonizing the trip home must be.

 

[tacothechicken]

We have a large coyote pack down the street and they learn people let theyre birds free range in summer and will watch to look for patterns timing etc. And then hit when you're not looking D:! One huge coyote would actually try to take our small dogs by luring them out and sitting in the yard where the hens and our llama could see him and alarm. Luckily our labradoodle is full on hunting dog instinct and shredded the yote a new one(never showed up in yard again when dogs were about) while our mastiff knows to gas it the moment any of our animals alarm call. All of them suddenly disappearing after one sounds like a yote realized birds weren't locked up the first time pushed his luck a second time and by the third time decided to just stash for winter sad to say some may come back but the preds probably know the area a lot better than the birds..

 

[dotporter]

I am so sorry for your loss.

I know this may seem like a dollar short and a day late: But I've had the same issue. A vacation in which we paid someone to "babysit" the birds ended with almost no birds left.

A family of raccoons discovered that there were no humans around to stop them.

In the future: we installed solar powered motion sensor lights and installed a radio tuned to a talk show.

The erratic talking combined with the sudden light will keep predators at bay even if you aren't really at home.

(the motion lights were installed at around knee height, so that a raccoon, fox, or even a possum, would trigger it)

I know that this doesn't help now, but I wish I would have known this ahead of time and hope that it helps you in the future.

 

[ronott1]

Many seem to have luck protecting against daytime predators by using electric fence or fence netting.
Premier 1 sell different types

 

[tacothechicken]

Many seem to have luck protecting against daytime predators by using electric fence or fence netting.
Premier 1 sell different types

But you also need to remember if you're birds leave the electrically fenced area jumping or sneaking under etc birds can still Be taken so make sure they know they're 'territory' we didnt resetup our EF after we moved cause we were lazy, but the hens know they shouldn't cross the fence to back pasture unless I'm back there and then come running back in when I do.

 

[JanetMarie]

Sounds like a fox. They watch, and knew you were gone. They kill as many birds as they can at once then take them away, and will keep coming back until they're all gone. They leave little trace of what happened.

As @dotporter said, a radio turned on will keep predators away. They won't come around human noises and activities. As well as electric fencing.

 

[tacothechicken]

You can also plant certain bushes or shrubs for the bords to hide in so they don't completely disappear into the forest after an attack we've had hens learn to find large Briars and rosebushes, blackberries etc to hide when attacked. In seattle they'd roost on our deck during winter cause it was high up and gated off so nothing could surprise them. Our currency birds know the goat area is fool proof and squish under the gate if they don't want to put up whith us or the dogs XD they know I'm to lazy to go through the effort while they're out freeranging

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Sounds like the neighbor sold your chickens and planted a few feathers to fool ya!

 

[Northern.Ontario]

But you also need to remember if you're birds leave the electrically fenced area jumping or sneaking under etc birds can still Be taken so make sure they know they're 'territory' we didnt resetup our EF after we moved cause we were lazy, but the hens know they shouldn't cross the fence to back pasture unless I'm back there and then come running back in when I do.

Clipping the feathers will prevent them from flying over a fence