something got my chickens...

[nikina]

WE have a flock of 20 free range chickens. They go out in the morning and come in at night. Yesterday when we went to the chicken coop to lock it up for the night, 13 chickens were missing. Obviously something had gotten one of them since we found some feathers with skin on it. no sign of all the others tho. We are assuming it was a fox. Could it be possible that the rest of the missing chickens are hiding somewhere ? we looked everywhere but couldn't find any. Just 7 were sitting in the coop.
Free ranging is unfortunately in the past for my poor girls. Its going to be a long day of chicken moving, fence building business. So sad I know the fox will come back but I don't want to give him another chance to get a free meal ...
Has anyone ever has a case like that and did the chickens show up again after a while ? I am worried that they are out there somewhere too scared to come back.

Nik

 

[jesirose]

They definitely could be hiding somewhere. I had a roo survive a predator attack and a neighbor brought him back.

Sorry for your loss

 

[redsoxs]

I've heard of birds hiding out after a fright. Sure hope that's the case. Could have been a coyote as well. Did you find signs of the disappearance? Feathers, etc.?

 

[nikina]

WE found some feathers last night and today we found one dead headless chicken laying in the grass. My hubby saw the fox that came to get the chicken. The fox must have sneaked in killed as many as possible left them and came back later to pick them up. none of the missing ones showed up yet