without a trace

[14was1521]

My girls are disappearing one by one, every couple days. Another Amberlink went missing today. Free rangers during the day, she was here this morning, and after noon I could not find her anywhere. My boxer brought one up 2 days ago, that has been missing about 4 days, just slightly maimed but not bloody. I think the dog did it. Could that be? I am getting rid of the dog anyways. Any opinions? I live in Southside VA area. Foxes, coyotes, hawks etc. you name it, we got it as far as predators. My friend on the property behind me called to tell me she is missing one of her girls. There is no trace of feathers either of us has found. Lots of woods, clearings are not as abundant as the woods, but there is some. I guess tomorrow they get to spend the day in the coop, which I hate, but the alternative I hate worse. Are white colored chickens more susceptible to getting got than a darker chicken? Do dogs see white easier than the blacks and reds?

 

[MinniesMomma]

I too have just about any type of predator you can name. When my girls go missing without a trace, I usually suspect foxes. They will snatch one and take off to eat it.

 

[14was1521]

I too have just about any type of predator you can name. When my girls go missing without a trace, I usually suspect foxes. They will snatch one and take off to eat it.

I know that happens, my experience with foxes has always been the whole flock, except for the lucky few that got away. You are probably correct, although I am so suspicious of this heavy pawed boxer, that is jealous of my girls, and wants to play with them, and then I caught her with the evidence? I have a large live trap, I think I will set it up, maybe I'll catch something in it.

 

[MinniesMomma]

I know that happens, my experience with foxes has always been the whole flock, except for the lucky few that got away. You are probably correct, although I am so suspicious of this heavy pawed boxer, that is jealous of my girls, and wants to play with them, and then I caught her with the evidence? I have a large live trap, I think I will set it up, maybe I'll catch something in it.

My dogs always plucked the chickens before killing them, which is why I don't think your dog is the culprit in this case. I tried a live trap, which did not work. I ended up keeping my girls locked up for 4 days and on the 5th day I literally sat out there with a shotgun until the fox showed up. It cost me a chicken, but I got the bugger.

 

[14was1521]

What would take a chicken, and leave it dead, almost completely unscathed (slight trauma to the upper breast, no blood) and my dog would find it and be carrying it around? I've never had anything like this happen, and I have had pet chickens since I was a child. There has always been feathers or a chewed up carcass. Any suggestions? I am still gonna try the trap to start. Are white birds more susceptible?

 

[MinniesMomma]

What would take a chicken, and leave it dead, almost completely unscathed (slight trauma to the upper breast, no blood) and my dog would find it and be carrying it around? I've never had anything like this happen, and I have had pet chickens since I was a child. There has always been feathers or a chewed up carcass. Any suggestions? I am still gonna try the trap to start. Are white birds more susceptible?

That absolutely does sound like a dog that quit playing with the hen when it stopped being "fun." I hate that the wildlife here eat my chickens, but at least they are doing it to survive, not just killing for sport.
I don't have any evidence to back it up, but it surely seems that light colored chickens would be a much easier target than dark or speckled ones.

 

[Howard E]

My daughter lost two free ranging flocks just the way you describe. In both cases it was to a fox.....which kept coming back for a month or so after she ran out of birds. Could be seen sniffing around the coop looking for a bird it might have missed or a replacement. Couldn't believe it's dumb luck to find birds somebody put out for it like that.

 

[cmom]

No, white birds aren't more susceptible than any other color. It's what the predators can catch. I have RIR's and RIW's and Brown and White Leghorns. I have probably lost more RIR's than the others over the years. Electric wire around the coop and pen helps. Once the predator gets a taste of the electric current it' usually doesn't come back for more. I also have several game cameras up so I know what's prowling around my coops and pens.

 

[aart]

What would take a chicken, and leave it dead, almost completely unscathed (slight trauma to the upper breast, no blood) and my dog would find it and be carrying it around? I've never had anything like this happen, and I have had pet chickens since I was a child. There has always been feathers or a chewed up carcass. Any suggestions? I am still gonna try the trap to start. Are white birds more susceptible?

Could be the dog interrupted the chicken killer, then picked up the bird and brought it home.
What you trap may not be what killed your birds.
Best bet is a secure run and a game cam.

 

[Friendly_Lurker]

Stop free ranging for a few days, and see what happens. It’s likely hawks.