mystery predator??

[hoping4better]

I have lost 4 hens in 4 days,

but only two at a time. So I lost 2 then none then 2 again today. I have had dog attacks in the past and they left feathers from the chickens fighting and the chickens hid for hours. This time was again mid-day, but not a feather to be found. The other chickens don't seem a bit bothered by their sisters' disappearance.

What does this sound like? I've heard that hawks would leave a pile of feathers behind, but don't know. It's been wet and rainy out today and the day before yesterday, so I also doubt a hawk would be out. I'm really confused.

Any ideas on what would so stealthily take my chickens mid-day with no signs and apparently no disturbance to the other chickens (including 3 roos that have come out unscathed despite the numerous attacks)???

 

[ralleia]

I'm not sure (first inclination would be to suspect a fox), but some more details about your land and how the chickens are kept might be helpful.

Are you semi-rural, rural, wooded, etc? Do the chickens free-range completely, or is there any fencing?

Are you fairly certain they are being taken, or could they possibly be hiding or trying to nest?

I'm sorry for your loss--predator problems are very disheartening.

 

[hoping4better]

Chickens are behind a fence on one side, but it doesn't keep them in since they can fly right over it. They are free ranging on an open field with a row of apple trees they seem to stick very close to. Then from there it's about 75 yards of open field to the woods. The chickens rarely find their way into this section, most likely as they have a natural fear of being out in the open. Their free range is about 2.5 open acres as described above.

This is also a pretyy rural area, as each neighbor sits on somewhere between 1 and 75 acres. There's about 10+ acres of wet woods next door that I know there are some wild hogs in and some deer.

 

[Chickmate]

Pretty much any predator leaves at least some feathers. Hawks, owls, fox, coyote, dog, coon, all leave feathers and in some cases entrails or partial carcass. Either they are hiding for some reason or is it possible a "human" predator took them?

 

[mywifewasonherenowiamalso]

maybe sitting on eggs somewhere?

 

[BluBug]

Quote:

The same thing happened to me~one week I lost one hen & did see a few feathers~so I did not allow the other hens to free range for a week or so~I was gone for about 4 hours one afternoon & when I went to close coop door,looked and 3 hens had disappeared,leaving one,which was so upset the next day she started crowing. I have ask & checked about predators & decided that it was Coyotes or Fox~to be able to take 3 so quickly and NO TRACE of hens~I have a lot of hawks,but they only took heads before & left a lot of feathers. With birthing time for most predators they are looking to feed heavily and our chickens are easy prey.

 

[mjuenem]

Maybe they are roosting in trees? I know when I let mine free range and leave them out till dusk, they are usually sitting in a tree.

 

[Two Creeks Farm]

I have always made sure to keep the area around the pen dirt.....it does help with looking for tracks daily to see if a probe from a predator had been made. Yotes can snatch a chicken and be gone in a flash and leaving a feather trail is iffy at best. Coons and Fox have been the ones that seem to be messy killers from my findings, although any attack can have differing outcomes. I had a young Yote enter our garage, following the smell of a nice roast that was exiting the kitchen vent/fan. They are brazen and when hungry or feeding pups.....they can be down right sketchy with what they go after and when!

 

[nelli21]

My experience with foxes has been that they are quick, quiet, come at night and leave only a couple of feathers behind. I've not experienced them being messy as a previous poster has said. Our neighbors have dogs so that may be why the foxes only come at night. I lost my 2 favorite hens to a fox. It can be like the hens just disappeared.

I'm very sorry for your loss. I do understand how difficult it is. Especially when you have to rethink how you are keeping your flock. I do suggest making a change because the foxes will keep coming back as long as the hens are easy picking.

Best,
Nelli

 

[neverbdone]

Bobcat can take a full grown chicken on the run without a trace. However, two at a time? Doubtful.

Hope you find out soon so you can restore peace to your home. Maybe they are in hiding.

They seem to be pretty good at disappearing when they want to. Hope they turn up happy and healthy.