What kind of predator leaves no trace? 30 chickens gone...

[TinyLittleFarm]

A friend of mine and her next door neighbor lost 30 chickens in one night. I am not sure how secure their coops are, but I do know they have not had previous trouble with losses. Most of the chickens were chicks that I think were about 2 months old. The birds simply disappeared. There is no sign of a break in. No feathers, no blood...nothing. They have searched and searched acres around their homes. They are both sad and frustrated of course.

Can anyone think of something that would/could do this?

 

[ChooksChick]

A human predator would be my first guess.

 

[al6517]

It does sound intriging, 30 is alot so I wonder if it's more 1 preditor. I lost 11 in one day 3 years ago and after a minor adjustment haven't lost one since. It hurts a bunch and makes you mad.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Thirty birds without a trace would certainly suggest a ten fingered predator to me as well.

 

[al6517]

Quote:
Good point I didn't think of that, very possible.

 

[Mark & Nique]

Is there any evidence around the coops? For instance, footprints or pawprints in the dirt/mud? A latch left undone?

I would get inside the coop, get down to chicken level and peer about. Could there be a small opening allowing a predator to come in or the chickens to get out?

 

[TinyLittleFarm]

Okay, I had two details wrong. One, all the chickens were out. The neighbor's chickens were free ranging, and my friend's chicks escaped under a gap in the door. It was during the day. There were also some chickens who survived and are safe at home. I thought probably something scared them into the woods and they just hid and freaked out, but as I said both women have searched and searched.

My friend doesn't think it was a person because taking that many chickens would take a bit of doing and while they both have small acreage, they live in a neighborhood and you'd think someone would see something.

Even though the chickens were all out, that's a lot of birds to lose in one day without a trace.

 

[Mark & Nique]

Is the area wooded with low hanging branches? If so, it would be easy for them to flap onto a branch and into a tree. Also, they could easily hide, thinking that you are a predator.