Why are my Roosters/cockerals disappearing??? (UPDATE page 2)

[artravler]

What about stray dogs? Notice any new dogs in the neighborhood?

 

[Oregon Blues]

That is a good idea but I doubt it in my case. I live in the country and most of my neighbors are family members and the young non- family couple that lives close get free eggs every week from me for their tolerance to crowing (which has dramatically decreased) and the occasional hen scratching in their yard.

Human hadn't occurred to me, but it is possible. Since it is only roosters and the result has been reduced crowing it is possible that what you are seeing is a reaction to noise.

The sound of crowing can carry for miles under the right conditions and for some reason, crowing is one of those sounds that drives some people bonkers.

I'm sitting here at my computer and a train just went by. The tracks are 5 miles away and I can hear the whistle and at night when the air is just right, I can hear the clack of the wheels. 5 Miles.

There used to be a kennel with a couple of coon hounds located 3 miles way and I could hear those dogs. I know exactly where they lived because I got into my car and followed the baying until I located the source of the noise, I spoke to a neighbor to learn that everyone in the area hated those dogs because they never shut up. Loud baying all night and day. It would not have surprised me if I had heard that someone had poisoned those dogs.(nobody did)

With lots of roosters, I suspect you were producing lots of noise. It's possible that it drove someone to antisocial acts.

Get the game cam.

 

[chickortreat]

Hang one of these on a post near your coop......





Might even write "CHICKEN THIEF" in bold letters above it......

 

[lovemybirdpets]

Owl wont be able to carry your roosters, not even hawks. Eagles can though. If not eagles then must be ground predators. It can be anything from fox, raccoon, coyote, just to name a few, or even people. In my case, I made a 35 foot tree house like above the coop and be able to peak who else watching or sneak up on my birds. Good luck and keep us post.

 

[Haunted55]

A couple of thoughts.

First the flashing red lights do work and very well. Right now you could probably save yourself some money and buy a set of red multi function Christmas lights and have them blink at different speeds. I am using a couple of red strobs for my two pens and I haven't had anything try to get in since I put them up.

Second, I think this may be human because if a bird was being grabbed by an animal it would leave feathers. One of their survival features is to lose feathers so to be able to get away from whatever has a hold of it. Your birds have been around humans so they probably wouldn't see them as a predator. If it were an owl, Great Horned have been known to grow large enough to carry off full grown roosters, there would be some evidence of loose feathers. Maybe not many, but still feathers.

If you can afford to get the game cameras, do it! It will answer your questions. Sorry I can't be more help.

 

[Haunted55]

Sorry, one question, have you notified the police? It just doesn't make sense that it's only your roosters that have come up among the missing unless there is a human element involved. Predators could tell the difference but why would they care? To them it's a meal, wouldn't matter what the sex was. Humans on the other hand....they can tell as well and it may be as Oregon said or it could be for something else. Please find a way to look into this further.

 

[jengro65]

When I went to let the birds out the next morning 1 of the missing boys suddenly appeared! He's just 16 weeks old (WLH cross) He looked like he had rolled around in mud and was having trouble walking...he has a really good appetite and the other birds left him alone. I sure hope he fully recovers from whatever happened.
I've been going out earlier then dusk and just sit and wait for them to roost. I also took a boom box out there and put on talk radio in case I'm called away. Once I close up the coop they are safe but I sure do love the Christmas light idea!

 

[Haunted55]

When I went to let the birds out the next morning 1 of the missing boys suddenly appeared! He's just 16 weeks old (WLH cross) He looked like he had rolled around in mud and was having trouble walking...he has a really good appetite and the other birds left him alone. I sure hope he fully recovers from whatever happened.
I've been going out earlier then dusk and just sit and wait for them to roost. I also took a boom box out there and put on talk radio in case I'm called away. Once I close up the coop they are safe but I sure do love the Christmas light idea!

Ummm, does anyone around you have chickens? Could they be wandering to visit with other girls? Something isn't right here. I have had roosters who have wandered away from the flock but they have always circled back after dark and been right at their house. Could you be missing them because they aren't there when the others go in? Probably not but a thought.

As for the Christmas lights, you can make them better just by wrapping some of the bulbs with electrical tape so no light shows from them. You want them to mimic eyes at night. Change the light pattern on the controler every few days as well, that way there isn't a pattern to become familiar with. I think I read that it take an animal a week to figure out patterns and to become unafraid.

 

[jengro65]

Ummm, does anyone around you have chickens?  Could they be wandering to visit with other girls?  Something isn't right here.  I have had roosters who have wandered away from the flock but they have always circled back after dark and been right at their house.  Could you be missing them because they aren't there when the others go in?  Probably not but a thought. 

One of my neighbors have about 15 chickens that I gave him as chicks. His birds don't free range like mine plus mine don't wander that far. My boys all disappeared in about a 90 minute time frame. They were there when I out after work to get eggs and give treats but gone when I went out to lock up the coop. I'm thinking that maybe the boy that returned somehow escaped and was hiding out??? The same neighbor with chickens recently trapped a coyote and a bob cat but I don't my little could escape that.

 

[immyjay54]

One of my neighbors have about 15 chickens that I gave him as chicks. His birds don't free range like mine plus mine don't wander that far. My boys all disappeared in about a 90 minute time frame. They were there when I out after work to get eggs and give treats but gone when I went out to lock up the coop. I'm thinking that maybe the boy that returned somehow escaped and was hiding out??? The same neighbor with chickens recently trapped a coyote and a bob cat but I don't my little could escape that.

Hi,
I was having a problem with coons. I got the night guard blinking red light (solar) and placed them 3 directions on my coops and haven't had any go missing since and that has been probably 3 months now. They claim that they will last 3 - 4 years. Mine were $19.99 each. I got them from Northern Tool.
Jim