Where did she go?

[hannahshatchery]

We have been free ranging our six chickens for a couple weeks and all of a sudden are one down during daylight hours. Not a peep, not a feather. Was this an overhead predator like a hawk perhaps? For what other reason would she vanish without a trace?

 

[snowflake]

we had one dissapear like that early spring, just a few feathers,
could be owel, dog, even coon,eagle, fox? the hawk atack we had killed the bird on the spot and would have eaten there or near by if we hadn't come on him
ours was a sussex full growen
depending on how large the hen was what ever it was, was big enough to carry it away

 

[Chick Charm]

It very well could be predation. Whatever predators are common to your local area will likely be the culprit.

Also, could there be a chance that one is sitting a nest??? Do you have a rooster?

 

[hannahshatchery]

they are not laying yet. they're about 12 weeks at this point. we have one cockerel for sure, and 2 others yet to be confirmed but highly suspicious. we are in virginia so i know there are a lot of predators. i just think it's odd for it to be just one and there to be absolutely no trace...

 

[hannahshatchery]

there is definitely a neighboring owl, we hear it at night. but this was a daytime disappearance. don't they only hunt at night? we have three dogs on our property that would not allow a wandering dog, and would not attack our flock, so i think i can rule that out, though the dogs weren't out all day yesterday.

 

[Chick Charm]

Truthfully, it could be a number of predators that took your chick. Foxes and or a dog, a hawk can swoop in without a trace. Owls are not usual suspects but certainly can take a chick if they are out int he day.

Of all the things that help most in free ranging, COVER, is paramount.

 

[hannahshatchery]

they roam around our orchard, so there are trees everywhere. they are also very close to our barn and can go under their coop. any ideas to improve cover?