My Chickens Are Suddenly Gone

[STACEYH]

Yeah we are going to get locks in the future and cameras as well

I have cameras also. I got them before I had a coop. I do enjoy being able to see my ladies even when I'm not home.

 

[HorsesRMe123]

Widen your search area. If they ever free-range outside of their run, go in the general direction that they go when they're out of the run, then go further. Ask your neighbors if they've seen them. Team up with your family members to go in different directions. I'd search at least 200 yards (the length of two football fields, i.e. 600ft) or more from their run. In a day, a chicken can travel a substantial distance. They're likely going to be in need of water too, so take some with you in case you find them.

I wouldn't "wait to see if they come home". Chickens are highly inquisitive by nature and have a one-track mind for food and exploring. They could easily get so far away that they wouldn't find their way home by nightfall, and at nightfall, their risk of becoming prey increases substantially.

Yeah we searched on many different roads and there wasn’t any sight of them. We looked north, south, east and west of our house and unfortunately couldn’t find them. I’m really worried that they could become a meal for an owl or raccoon. But you can only do so much.

 

[HorsesRMe123]

I have cameras also. I got them before I had a coop. I do enjoy being able to see my ladies even when I'm not home.

Yeah that’s a great idea! It would have been nice to see what happened to my girls if I had a camera setup.

 

[HorsesRMe123]

A sad update: we haven’t found our girls…and we probably won’t. They were all such wonderful chickens and had their own unique personalities. Their names were Stella (White Leghorn), Clementine (Rhode Island Red), Vanilla (White Leghorn), and Cinnamon (Rhode Island Red). They had great lives and their hatch day was June 11th, 2020. They were all very sweet chickens. All of them would squat for you and let you pet and hold them. I will always miss them. We plan to get more chickens next year as well as ducks and possibly geese for guarding our flock (only female geese though since males can be aggressive). We’ve had geese before. They make excellent “guard dogs”. No hawk or eagle would be a problem for our chickens anymore and no one would ever steal chickens from us knowing there’s geese going to hiss and bite them. Plus geese are fun since they imprint to you and they have their unique personalities! But it’s really hard to believe that they’re actually gone. They were such wonderful girls. They laid so well. From the four chickens, we got about probably around 20-25 eggs a week. We’ll forever miss those girls.

From left to right: Clementine, Vanilla, Stella, and Cinnamon

Here’s the geese we had a while ago:

 

[Silkie Princess]

I had four chickens who are suddenly gone as of today. I keep their coop open during night so they just hop outside whenever. I noticed the gate to their run was open. I’m not sure if I left it open or what. If I did, well then I know why they’re gone. They ventured off somewhere. But, my question is could someone have stolen them? Do people steal chickens?

Did you find a lot of feathers?

 

[HorsesRMe123]

Did you find a lot of feathers?

No we didn’t see any feathers from those girls, only feathers from our other two chickens we recently got who are going through a molt right now.

 

[Silkie Princess]

A sad update: we haven’t found our girls…and we probably won’t. They were all such wonderful chickens and had their own unique personalities. Their names were Stella (White Leghorn), Clementine (Rhode Island Red), Vanilla (White Leghorn), and Cinnamon (Rhode Island Red). They had great lives and their hatch day was June 11th, 2020. They were all very sweet chickens. All of them would squat for you and let you pet and hold them. I will always miss them. We plan to get more chickens next year as well as ducks and possibly geese for guarding our flock (only female geese though since males can be aggressive). We’ve had geese before. They make excellent “guard dogs”. No hawk or eagle would be a problem for our chickens anymore and no one would ever steal chickens from us knowing there’s geese going to hiss and bite them. Plus geese are fun since they imprint to you and they have their unique personalities! But it’s really hard to believe that they’re actually gone. They were such wonderful girls. They laid so well. From the four chickens, we got about probably around 20-25 eggs a week. We’ll forever miss those girls.

From left to right: Clementine, Vanilla, Stella, and Cinnamon
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Here’s the geese we had a while ago:
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So sorry! This happened to me only a few days ago My beloved crossbeak Crooksie and my dog Spotie wandered off through an open gate. Spotie came back but Crooksie didn't I searched for hours and finally found some feathers.She was such a bright little chicken always making people smile

 

[HorsesRMe123]

So sorry! This happened to me only a few days ago My beloved crossbeak Crooksie and my dog Spotie wandered off through an open gate. Spotie came back but Crooksie didn't I searched for hours and finally found some feathers.She was such a bright little chicken always making people smile

Aw I’m so sorry that happened to you too. That’s so sad.

 

[Silkie Princess]

Aw I’m so sorry that happened to you too. That’s so sad.

Thank you

 

[HorsesRMe123]

Also, I have a question for everyone. We wanted to get more chicks this year but no one has them since they’re out of season. So we’re thinking we have to wait until next spring. But do you guys know any hatchery or store that still has chicks in stock? The breeds we’d like are Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Sapphire Gems, and Easter Eggers.