Something strange is going on!

[Chickeroonie keeper]

Okay. Around a 1-2 months ago, something got into one of my chicken coops and stole all my silkies (10 birds)- they vanished without a trace (besides some feathers). The next day I found three wandering around in my yard, unscathed. I immediately went and posted a thread, in which people thought somebody stole my chickens and dropped off three because they felt bad. I wasn’t so sure. A few weeks later, same thing. Something stole an Easter egger hen and 6 silkie roosters. I went back to the thread, they thought a person had come back for round two. Then, about a week ago, I caught a fox attempting to steal another Easter egger hen! I got her back, and she’s continuing to recover. I set a fox trap, plopped my huge dog out by the chicken coop, and thought all was well. HOWEVER, today I went out to collect eggs, and found a giant pile of feathers- I think from a silkie. The three girls I have left are all perfectly fine and the coop seemed unbothered. Where did this huge pile of feathers come from?!

 

[NatJ]

today I went out to collect eggs, and found a giant pile of feathers- I think from a silkie. The three girls I have left are all perfectly fine and the coop seemed unbothered. Where did this huge pile of feathers come from?!

So you are not missing any chickens, but you found a pile of feathers?

You might check the chickens to see if any have lost some feathers. A hen can have a surprising amount of feathers, so she can lose a lot and still not look naked.

Something similar happened to me once: I saw a fox chasing a hen, and chased it off before it could actually kill her. There were several giant piles of feathers in the yard, but the hen only had a small bare spot. I knew they all came from her because of the color, but I had not idea she could lose so many feathers and barely show it!

 

[neo71665]

Is your run covered? That kinda looks like might be an large owl or raptor this time.

 

[cmom]

Time to put up a camera and see what's going on. I love my cameras. Good luck...

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Okay. Around a 1-2 months ago, something got into one of my chicken coops and stole all my silkies (10 birds)- they vanished without a trace (besides some feathers). The next day I found three wandering around in my yard, unscathed. I immediately went and posted a thread, in which people thought somebody stole my chickens and dropped off three because they felt bad. I wasn’t so sure. A few weeks later, same thing. Something stole an Easter egger hen and 6 silkie roosters. I went back to the thread, they thought a person had come back for round two. Then, about a week ago, I caught a fox attempting to steal another Easter egger hen! I got her back, and she’s continuing to recover. I set a fox trap, plopped my huge dog out by the chicken coop, and thought all was well. HOWEVER, today I went out to collect eggs, and found a giant pile of feathers- I think from a silkie. The three girls I have left are all perfectly fine and the coop seemed unbothered. Where did this huge pile of feathers come from?!

That looks like a predator attack. Can you set more traps? Do you have a way to confine the remaining ones for their own safety?

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Yeah it’s covered. I don’t think it’s from one of my hens though. They were all locked inside the run and as I mentioned before, none were missing. Occasionally a hen escapes, but they aren’t able to get back in. This was also a distance from my coop/run area.

Could it have been one that went missing before? Maybe search that area for others?

 

[Chickeroonie keeper]

Is your run covered? That kinda looks like might be an large owl or raptor this time.

Yeah it’s covered. I don’t think it’s from one of my hens though. They were all locked inside the run and as I mentioned before, none were missing. Occasionally a hen escapes, but they aren’t able to get back in. This was also a distance from my coop/run area.

 

[Chickeroonie keeper]

Could it have been one that went missing before? Maybe search that area for others?

That’s what I was thinking, but they were missing for a long while before this

 

[Pollito Pelon]

Following

Stray dogs are a problem where we live. A pack of dogs stole several eggs, wooden eggs and killed my game hen and her chicks. Owner never became responsible and they ended up killing their chickens as well.

 

[McChooky]

Yeah it’s covered. I don’t think it’s from one of my hens though. They were all locked inside the run and as I mentioned before, none were missing. Occasionally a hen escapes, but they aren’t able to get back in. This was also a distance from my coop/run area.

You only have 3 chickens living in here so look closer for injuries you may have missed earlier and secure this coop BEFORE it happens again.