The Great Chicken Escape

[aliceandco]

So I am very new on this forum, although I've been creeping around for quite a while now...
I got 15 day old Ameraucanas back in December (weather was a nonissue since I'm located in suburban California), and they are now in my backyard in a coop & run.
Everything has been just fine and dandy, my dogs even shoo them back into the run when one tries to fly out.

The way my run is set up is a brick wall about 5 feet high along the east side, another brick wall about 6 feet high on the south side, the wall of my garage on the west side, and a 4 foot tall fence with some chicken wire on it on the north.

Around 2 AM this morning, there was some loud squawking and barking. I went outside to investigate and found a chicken next to the run's fence and another out in the front yard. My front yard and back yard are separated by a 4~ foot fence so my dogs must have chased it. Around 7 AM, I went back out and counted my chickens. 3 were missing. After searching all day, I couldn't find them anywhere. I even walked around the neighborhood 3 or 4 times but saw nothing.

I still couldn't understand why this happened. My chickens usually sleep through the night, and my neighborhood has no predators other than the occasional stray cat. And cats stopped coming to our yard after we added the second dog.

Tonight I went out to check on the chickens, and realized that between the last time I did a nighttime check (3 days ago) and now, the chickens had decided to roost on the north facing fence. One was on the east facing brick wall, and 5 were on the fence.

Now, my hunch is that the chickens have flown into the nursery that is located on a lot directly adjacent to the east wall. The chickens could have very well flown onto the coop, and then hopped the wall with no way to return, because I do believe they are a bit too small to get up that high. I'm guessing the others were trying to roost on the brick wall, but overshot and weren't able to fly back over.

2 more have gone missing, making my total count from 15 to 9. (Did I mention that one disappeared a few weeks ago? I guess it also flew over the wall. I was never able to figure it out til now.) I had been bugging the men in my family to install a roost for me, but apparently I didn't nag well enough because the chickens beat me on this one.

I'll be immediately adding a roost and either will clip their wings or put a high net over their run since I can't manage building a 6 foot wall.

But my question is this:
How do I find my chickens in the nursery? I'm not sure I can find 5 small chickens in a forest of fruit trees. Hopefully they'll have enough to eat from all the plants around, but I'm not sure if they'll be hiding or roosting in trees... Has this ever happened to anyone before? I'm going to have to search tomorrow, and I need a game plan!! The nursery is about 1/4 acre, so not huge. But it compensates for size by having potted plants everywhere, with no room to walk.
Do I lure them with feed?
Do I take a chicken with me to entice its sisters?

So sorry for the long post! I'm just lost on what to do...

The search begins at sunrise tomorrow!

 

[PapaChaz]

i'd just go to the nursery and ask. looks like you're gonna have to make a covered run, with no other predators (are you SURE???) you could go with the cheap plastic netting for your cover....

 

[Ga Chicken Mom]

Welcome to BYC. We have a completely different setup for our flock but my girls come running when I call them. The present flock is only 10 weeks old but they know my voice and will respond to " chick, chick, chick" because that means treats. Perhaps you can take some food and go to the other side of the wall into the nursery and call them. I would check there and also look for feathers etc. A 1/4 acre nursery could be home to all sorts of predators who would love a chicken meal. Good luck and post again with the results of your search.

 

[aliceandco]

I actually did look when the first chicken disappeared, but the problem is that the chickens could anywhere inside of the nursery, and I'm not sure what the best way is to locate the general area they're in. I don't think feed will do much good since the area is too large?

And I'll get some netting ASAP. I'm sure there are no predators around, so that's a huge relief.

Thanks!

 

[aliceandco]

Ohh, maybe by now the chickens are used to their feeding habits. Luckily I always call "Food time!" when I bring the feed, so maybe that will work.

Thank you!

 

[CMV]

I think you should be aware that every area has predators. Chickens are not active at night. The only time they would be active at night is if something disturbed them (like a raccoon or possum looking for a free meal). You need to get your birds some secure night time housing and a covered run. You could try looking in the nursery for your birds, but I suspect that you won't find them because they are not there to be found. Try enticing them with food- cracked corn is usually a favorite. A butterfly net is also very helpful when trying to catch a reluctant chicken.

I hope you find them. Good luck.

 

[Jesseschickens]

Quote:
if it were a pussom you would no they leave pecies of chicken behind

 

[aliceandco]

You guys were all absolutely right, and I was stupid not to listen. There clearly was a predator involved.
I went over into the nursery and problem discovered the feathers&feet of a chicken. Luckily it was the only one killed, and I heard the other 2 chickens clucking about. I couldn't find them, but I'm heading back over there in a little bit with a few helpers.

Now my question is, what kind of predator would eat the entire carcass, leaving only clean feathers and the feet? Or is it multiple predators ganging up...

Thank you so much for your input, I'm sorry I didn't listen before. I guess I was just trying to cling onto some hope that they were alive!!

We are putting up some netting over the run as I type this, so hopefully that will be secure enough until I can find something more permanent.