Something is taking one of our free range chickens every day.

[Run-a-muck]

Any suggestions. We have lost five of our free range chickens in about a week. We just find some feathers. This is happening during the day. Fox or Coyote? No carcass left behind. Not raccoon. I'm going to keep them in their coop for at least a few days. I'd shoot it if I could see it and we have.

 

[HeiHei123]

It could be a hawk or owl

 

[Trish1974]

Any suggestions. We have lost five of our free range chickens in about a week. We just find some feathers. This is happening during the day. Fox or Coyote? No carcass left behind. Not raccoon. I'm going to keep them in their coop for at least a few days. I'd shoot it if I could see it and we have.

Could be either one (fox or coyote).

 

[Folly's place]

Keep them in for at least two weeks, or longer!!!
A raptor may give up and move on over that time, and if you set out a game camera, it may help figure out who your predators are.
Electric fencing is your friend for ground predators!
Letting your birds out is providing dinner for somebody, and you need to protect your birds.
Mary

 

[centrarchid]

I would set a trap for fox or coyote. Have you seen some the traps used to catch them?

 

[RiverOtter]

Likely fox - they won't leave a buffet once they find it.

 

[TexasTurkeyMama]

Do you have bobcats in the area?

 

[TexasTurkeyMama]

'Tis the season. We were letting the mature laying flock of ducks and chickens out to play over 2 acres. There are trees for shade, shrubs, and open space, access to their coops, etc. Egg heaven.

Two days ago I picked up black feathers in clumps under one of the spreading oak trees. And yesterday I took attendance in the bantam coop and came up one silkie short.

War. We are hoping to catch the new neighbor on the game camera and watch over the remaining birds.