Our 15 chickens are gone!

[Tripchick]

I was optimistic reading other threads that by this morning at least some of my chicks would be back, but they aren't.

Two nights ago, my daughter left the coop door open. The coop is in our fenced on garden (no roof/netting protection). I'm positive the chickens all left the coop to enjoy the garden soil.

Yesterday morning, we woke to no sign of chickens... not even a feather. I know there are hawks, raccoons and probably other predators too.

We have 2 acres and our neighbors each have 8. There are a ton of hiding places, shrubs, trees, sheds, etc for me to even begin to look.

Any chance you think some will return? I'm heart broken, as are my kids.

 

[andreanar]

I'm sorry! My pullets all got scattered by a dog knocking down my run a few months ago. Mine did come back. Don't give up. Get some treats and go for a long walk. Walk all your property., calling out to them. Leave your coop open at night. Good luck.

 

[Tripchick]

Thanks! I've been sitting in our garden quietly, hoping not to startle them. I guess they like to hear my voice.

 

[strangeanimal]

Thanks! I've been sitting in our garden quietly, hoping not to startle them. I guess they like to hear my voice.

Hi ! so sorry to read your story ! I guess indeed they will come to the sound of your voice and maybe you can build a trap by luring them with what they can not resist in feed !
all you need is a cartbox and a branch attached to some wire , if you are outside and notice a chicken trying to eat ( under the box ) pull the wire and you got the chicken , put it straight to confinement !
PS : you do not happen to live in Europe , Belgium ?? (having some gone chickenstories here too ) best of luck !

 

[sourland]

Generally, scared/scattered birds tend to return at dusk. Good luck.

 

[centrarchid]

Loss of multiple birds like that consistent with a canid, especially a fox. Starting from your coop, begin walking in ever widening circles looking closely at ground as you go. I move about so each circle is offset by about 16 feet when seeing good and tighter when going through heavy brush. If am am correct, then you will come across kill sights and even get start to see where feathers of a given bird lead off into a particular direction. Once that is figured out you likely will not have to go farther than a couple hundred yards to find where birds have been piled or processed and possibly even cached in small wholes covered with a modest amount of dirt.

 

[Eggcessive]

How old were they? Had you had them very long? I am so sorry, but I hope you can find them.

 

[feather13]

I'm so sorry for your loss and hope the survivors come back. My chickens go mad for mealworms and dried shrimp. Maybe put some out for them today? My kids left the coop door open once, raccoons got in, and it was a total disaster.

 

[Patinas]

So sorry to hear your flock is missing! That's heartbreaking! It's strange you haven't found a single one. On one occasion, a few months back, one of my flock didn't make it in by the time the gate was shut for the evening but she still hung out nearby that night and I saw her first thing in the morning. On the other hand, one of my hens recently completely disappeared with no sign of her and she's been gone two weeks now.

Hard to believe a predator would have got all 15 in one night so maybe something attacked one or two of them and the rest took off running in fear and are just lost?

I would check with my neighbors and let them know your flock is missing and then just keep calling to them. I don't know if chickens "get lost" but I do know mine never go very far from their coop and run. Furthest I've ever seen them wander is about a block away but if they were out all night and something tried to attack one, I would imagine they would scatter. Then again, I've also heard chickens are completely helpless in the dark.

I'm purely speculating but I would still have hope some of them are out there somewhere. I really hope some of them will find their way home!

 

[centrarchid]

So sorry to hear your flock is missing! That's heartbreaking! It's strange you haven't found a single one. On one occasion, a few months back, one of my flock didn't make it in by the time the gate was shut for the evening but she still hung out nearby that night and I saw her first thing in the morning. On the other hand, one of my hens recently completely disappeared with no sign of her and she's been gone two weeks now.

Hard to believe a predator would have got all 15 in one night so maybe something attacked one or two of them and the rest took off running in fear and are just lost?

I would check with my neighbors and let them know your flock is missing and then just keep calling to them. I don't know if chickens "get lost" but I do know mine never go very far from their coop and run. Furthest I've ever seen them wander is about a block away but if they were out all night and something tried to attack one, I would imagine they would scatter. Then again, I've also heard chickens are completely helpless in the dark.

I'm purely speculating but I would still have hope some of them are out there somewhere. I really hope some of them will find their way home!

See following thread. Birds disturbed at night typically come out as soon as sun is up.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/red-fox-makes-mass-kill.1199310/