MY CHICKENS ARE GONE TONIGHT!

[Chickalish]

If they are hiding do they sometimes hide for days or do they typically try to come back in the morning?

 

[LavvyTaffy]

Even Great Horned Owls are not going to take multiple birds in one night. Hawks can not fly off with a full grow Chicken, or even a eagle. They would eat it where the caught it. Your predator was not one that flies. Bobcats take multiple birds but usually leave sign. Coyotes could take them without sign. I know it's mating season for them right now. I am guessing Fox as well. Hope you get lucky and they turn up. Even the Great Horned Owls can't fly very far carrying a chicken!

I'm sorry but I have to contradict this. I have SEEN a hawk carry a full grown RIR out of their run. Unfortunately, I couldn't get to my gun quick enough...

 

[Chickalish]

Even Great Horned Owls are not going to take multiple birds in one night. Hawks can not fly off with a full grow Chicken, or even a eagle. They would eat it where the caught it. Your predator was not one that flies. Bobcats take multiple birds but usually leave sign. Coyotes could take them without sign. I know it's mating season for them right now. I am guessing Fox as well. Hope you get lucky and they turn up. Even the Great Horned Owls can't fly very far carrying a chicken!

Thank you, that makes very sad sense. I am so heart heavy. If they don't come home in the morning I just want to know what took them. I pray whatever did, was fast and didn't take them far and make them suffer long. I loved them so much One in particular was the best pet I've had in 50 years of all kinds of animals. She was soooo sweet and loving and would run to see me from far away anytime I opened the door and loved to snuggle. Problem is she would NEVER run. If something took her she just hunkered down and it took her .........

 

[Ravynscroft]

I'm sorry but I have to contradict this. I have SEEN a hawk carry a full grown RIR out of their run. Unfortunately, I couldn't get to my gun quick enough...

X2

And it is not unheard of to have pairs hunting... or overlapping hunting territories...

Sorry, I do hope they just got spooked and hid, but realistic odds are not in favor of that...

 

[2 many chickens]

It's happened to one of mine before.. one stayed out all night somewhere, called for her for a while and gave up. Come the next morning, there she was.. fat butt was fine lol. She just tuckered down somewhere. Now I had another one do this last week, never found her again. I guess a fox got her, no feathers, nothing. Give it till the morning, maybe their just tuckered down somewhere together.

 

[Chelsa'sChicks]

If they don't come back for breakfast that's when I get nervous. Either something bigger then them took them away (fox, coyote in my backyard at least), they have a nest and are sitting on eggs outside or they could be hiding in the barn/coop area.

My birds are not broody so go off what your specific birds history.. each breed and bird is not the same. I have had 1 hen go missing for 4 days once. No idea where she was, but turned up alive (without chicks). I looked too with the flashlight and took my dog to help track her body.

 

[Ravynscroft]

Here's facts for you... quote "from 6 pounds to 60 pounds, there is no cut-off weight that is safe"... this quote is directly referring to pets being preyed on by raptors...

http://hawksaloft.org/hawks-aloft-inc-2/frequently-asked-questions/

 

[LavvyTaffy]

Here's facts for you... quote "from 6 pounds to 60 pounds, there is no cut-off weight that is safe"... this quote is directly referring to pets being preyed on by raptors...

http://hawksaloft.org/hawks-aloft-inc-2/frequently-asked-questions/

 

[chickenmeadow]

Good luck tomorrow, hope you find some.

I live on 40 acres of forested land; we have all the daily/nightly sky & ground predators; it's pretty "wild" here & beautiful. I love the idea of free ranging, but when I let my chicken flock with rooster out the very 1st time, they started venturing out very quickly. A bird of prey came over head so I coaxed

them back to their safe wire covered run surrounded by hot wire, shut the door & won't let them out till I have a large area of at least short fencing around under supervision. Lost 12 a couple of years ago to a bear that left no trace behind except major coop & fence (no hot wire) damage. Don't want to loose these. Best wishes in finding what will work best for you there.

 

[chickenmeadow]

Just got a chance to read all the prior posts beyond your 1st post & hope that I did not try to sound like an expert or a "dooms-day-er".

I understand your concern for the missing chickens, & hope that they return soon. As a fellow chicken & all animal lover, I am feeling your pain. Our friends live on another mountain & their chickens often go up into trees for a safer nights sleep. Best wishes & kindness to you & yours, really! Please keep us updated!