ONly one chicken missing?!

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Prob the smartest move. Just know you will have to figure out eventually, if you plan to free range them again, that it won't take long to notice they are out and about. I let the dogs out now and they have succeeded in pushing the predators back...but they are still there. The remaining chickens don't go so far into the woods. So now the pedator will either risk coming in closer, or, move more, or the chickens will forget....

 

[dodgewoman]

Well, I have an answer on my Eleanore

My son was riding his ATV in our back woods today and came to get me. He found a bunch of black feathers. It wasn't a ton and there was no blood but enough to surmise a struggle and death

Probably the Hawks we usually have in the woods? I can't believe she lost her life in my own back yard. I used to love watching the hawks hunt, no longer. **** birds need to get along!

 

[dodgewoman]

What interesting is my dogs have access to this part of the yard(they have electric fence). My mother was most likely in the house at the time as well so the dogs had probably just been out. I know it only takes a min. I think it's a bad time of year too with everything stocking up on food for winter.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Well, likely the available wild prey has been used up. I found that leaving a dog or two outside all day deters alot, and when they take off into the woods I know they are doing their job. If you have coyote and fox you could also have a bobcat, this sounds like that kind of predator. Hawks typically go for much smaller animals...ones they can carry off.