Something or someone is stealing my chickens

[AR Country Chick]

Yesterday my little rooster went missing - no carcass, no feathers, just gone. He was in the run with an open top - so I figured he might have flown over. Next thing on my to do list is clip wings. Canvassed the neighborhood, left my number with my neighbors, etc - nothing. This rooster was the only one of 24 eggs to hatch -I sang to him, talked to him, and played classical music for him in vitro and then worried and fawned and obsessed over him after he hatched - yes I'm attached. This morning I went out to let the others out of the coop and one of my hens is missing. There's no way in or out of my coop unless you open two latched door. I'm convinced that if an animal got them there would have been some sort of "gore" or at least feathers, but there is none of that. It's like they both just vanished. I know the likelihood of a person stealing my birds is just laughable, but I'm at a complete loss here. Any ideas?

 

[WingingIt]

If you don't actually have locks on your pen, it's not that laughable. Unfortunately, it's happened to lots of members here where they discovered people were stealing their chickens. Change the latches to locks. Sorry it happened to you.

 

[GableBabble]

Sounds like a Hawk. We have had the same thing happen. Big huge Roo just Poof vanished. Then when Hubbie went hunting that same year he found the Shell of his carcass and the feathers on a fence row at the middle of our property. Partly on a post.

 

[dufus]

if you are saying the rooster could fly out,, then hawks or owls can fly in... and not leave empty handed.... also, a coon could climb right over the fence. a friend shot one last year, climbing back out with a fat hen in his mouth. put a top on your coop/yard.

 

[MandyH]

It is likely that an owl is getting themat night since your top in uncovered.

 

[AR Country Chick]

The rooster went missing during the day - a hawk makes sense. I'm going to cover the run / yard this weekend. Problem solved. However, the hen was in the coop/chicken house itself last night - theres no door for them to go in and out on their own. I let them out into the run/yard every morning and put them up in the coop every night. I also count them everytime I'm there - so I know that there were 9 when I put them up and 8 when I let them out. All of the latches were latched this morning - there will be locks tonight. If someone stole them or even just the hen for food - I can deal with that. If they were hungry they could have knocked on my door, for that matter, I have a whole freezer full of processed Tyson chicken. I'm wondering though if it could be some of the kids around here who are bored and getting their kicks and giggles at my expense. One thing I'm sure of is - this sux!! This is my first go at raising chickens in a small setting. I was raised on a chicken farm - totally different experience. So far, I'm not casual about my chickens - they have names and personalities, I feed them breakfast every morning (they particularly like peaches covered in plain yogurt with meal worm sprinkles), I check on them several times a day especially now that its so hot (I work at a home office - I can do that), I make sure their water is clean and cool, make sure they have all of the things they need - oyster shell, grit, scratch - you name it I got it. For me this is a big deal.

 

[ailurophile23]

So sorry to hear about your losses!

Very strange how the hen disappeared. Might be worth investing in a surveillance system (game camera or other) to keep an eye on things and figure out who or what your predator is. Adding locks and a cover over the run sound like a good start. Keep us updated.

 

[stubbornhill]

Very strange! I think that the "game camera" is a good idea. By the time the camera clicks and flashes, it will be too late and they/it will run off. If you don't have one, can't get one today, I would put something goey and slimy on the door handles. Like vaseline or something like that. If it is a person...chances are good that if they reach for the handle and their hand gets something goey on it, it will freak them out not knowing what it is and they will take off. In the morning, you can wipe it off. Kind of a crack pot idea, but it would be worth experimenting with if you don't happen to have a camera available. Good luck to you and so sorry that you are dealing with this!

 

[AR Country Chick]

@ stubbornhill - I like the way you think

In my chicken coop there's an abundance of "gooey & slimy" lol