What could've done this

[coffeenutdesign]

I haven't seen any foxes around here, but that doesn't mean anything. My mom has them around her house about 15 miles away. The hens I had left were upset though. I found 2 in the coop raising the alarm from the roost, 3 came running from some thick underbrush once they saw me, and I found the other older girl in the back yard in an old hiding spot, though they haven't gotten in that part of the back yard in a while because we closed it off, but she was smart enough or desperate enough to figure out how to get in again.

I have some hunters coming out to try some calling tonite to see if they can get something. Second line of defense will be poisoned bait. There are no houses or domestic animals on the back side of my 25 acres, just several hundred more acres of nothing much but brush. None of my animal go back that far.

On a plus side, out my 6 remaining hens, I got 5 eggs so far today and my other girl didn't lay until later in the day yesterday, so it is not time for another one from her yet. The shell color was a little off on one, but overall good looking eggs, so maybe they weren't too traumatized. They are mad at me today for not letting them out. I might drag out the little run I had them in when they were too big for the brooder but not big enough for the coop and give them grazing time. It's not very big, but since there are only 6 left I don't think it will be too cramped. Maybe I'll just let half in there at a time.

 

[Oregon Blues]

With 6 gone all at the same time, my best guess would be a fox with cubs that she is training to hunt.

Coyotes will be out and hunting at any hour of the night or day. Don't assume they only hunt at night. Unless it was a mother with half grown pups, a coyote wouldn't take 6 all at the same time.

If you had a human on your place stealing chickens, wouldn't the neighbor dog go crazy? If the dog is accustomed to wildlife, he might not bark, but a strange human should set him off.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

I once had a neighbor's dog get into my yard and go for the birds. By the time I got out there she had one bird in her mouth but shockingly hadn't hurt it. My white leghorn was nowhere to be found and there were white feathers all over my yard. No blood. No body. I could not find her anywhere and she did not come home to roost. I went to bed thinking she was dead. The next morning I went out and she was, sitting with the rest of the girls, waiting for me like nothing had happened and not a mark on her. So, I am hoping that perhaps some of them are hiding and will return as well.

However, to be fair, I do live in the city and there are not a lot of predators around. It is really odd to not have heard anything. Good luck!

 

[coffeenutdesign]

YAY, my roo and one of my hens showed up tonite! My DH was washing his truck and I guess they heard the water and thirst led them out. They were under the pier & beam part of our house. Still missing 4, but I am happy to get those 2 back. We'll water some more in the morning just to see if any more can be lured out. It's getting too dark, now.

PTL

 

[coffeenutdesign]

I once had a neighbor's dog get into my yard and go for the birds. By the time I got out there she had one bird in her mouth but shockingly hadn't hurt it. My white leghorn was nowhere to be found and there were white feathers all over my yard. No blood. No body. I could not find her anywhere and she did not come home to roost. I went to bed thinking she was dead. The next morning I went out and she was, sitting with the rest of the girls, waiting for me like nothing had happened and not a mark on her. So, I am hoping that perhaps some of them are hiding and will return as well.

However, to be fair, I do live in the city and there are not a lot of predators around. It is really odd to not have heard anything. Good luck!

Send me some more of that luck! You have the magic touch

 

[ChickensRDinos]

Send me some more of that luck! You have the magic touch

Yay!! I'm so excited that some came home. Happy thoughts your way.