Dog chased pullet into woods now missing

[oneoftheflock4]

A dog wandered onto the property today and terrorized my free ranging flock, sent them all scared into hiding in the woods. This was a hunting breed and he pursued one in particular like he was hunting it. I couldn’t reach them in time and heard a couple distress cries and the last one was worse and then nothing since. I traced their route and found several small piles of feathers where she must have fought to get away and then the trail ends. No signs of blood but she is missing

The dog ran off, harassing the other flock members one more time before heading back to its property. Couldn’t follow close enough to see if they may have had my hen or if she got away and was in hiding.

Went to the dogs owner and no sign of the chicken being brought there.

I’ve retraced her steps where the feathers were and searched for her a couple times and haven’t found her. The rest of the flock was upset and all went into the coop early. The hen that raised her from a chick made some sad sounds after the coop was closed up.

I’m sharing this hoping to hear some hope from others that she might be okay and just scared and hiding in the woods. The sight of the lost feathers is concerning but no blood is a good sign, right?

Has anyone had something very similar and their hen was found the next day?

She was just about 5 months old, and part of my family. Feeling pretty sad that this happened and that I couldn’t catch the dog in time. Hoping she is out there and will return safely, but worried.

 

[Debbie292d]

Wow, I'm so sorry to hear about this! I hope the owner of that dog knows now to keep it on a chain or in a kennel!

Actually this afternoon we had a rooster chase a couple of the same age into the woods. They came back up but then saw I was missing my chocolate rooster Mocha. I got hubby and we found him under a branch and blended it with the dead leaves. Ours can't fly, can yours? Maybe she is up on a tree branch? I'd go out at night and look for her hiding under branches in the leaves or up in a tree.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

A dog wandered onto the property today and terrorized my free ranging flock, sent them all scared into hiding in the woods. This was a hunting breed and he pursued one in particular like he was hunting it. I couldn’t reach them in time and heard a couple distress cries and the last one was worse and then nothing since. I traced their route and found several small piles of feathers where she must have fought to get away and then the trail ends. No signs of blood but she is missing

The dog ran off, harassing the other flock members one more time before heading back to its property. Couldn’t follow close enough to see if they may have had my hen or if she got away and was in hiding.

Went to the dogs owner and no sign of the chicken being brought there.

I’ve retraced her steps where the feathers were and searched for her a couple times and haven’t found her. The rest of the flock was upset and all went into the coop early. The hen that raised her from a chick made some sad sounds after the coop was closed up.

I’m sharing this hoping to hear some hope from others that she might be okay and just scared and hiding in the woods. The sight of the lost feathers is concerning but no blood is a good sign, right?

Has anyone had something very similar and their hen was found the next day?

She was just about 5 months old, and part of my family. Feeling pretty sad that this happened and that I couldn’t catch the dog in time. Hoping she is out there and will return safely, but worried.

I'm sorry to hear about your pullet.

Did she come back?

In the morning, call the chickens, shake a can of food and make noise in case she's hiding somewhere. Hopefully she will return.

Unfortunately, finding a couple of piles of feathers and no blood doesn't indicate that she is gone. I've had Coyote take chickens and just found feathers no blood.

But, keep watch in the morning and during the day tomorrow, if she's around, she's hunkered down for the night.

 

[OrpingtonManic]

A dog wandered onto the property today and terrorized my free ranging flock, sent them all scared into hiding in the woods. This was a hunting breed and he pursued one in particular like he was hunting it. I couldn’t reach them in time and heard a couple distress cries and the last one was worse and then nothing since. I traced their route and found several small piles of feathers where she must have fought to get away and then the trail ends. No signs of blood but she is missing

The dog ran off, harassing the other flock members one more time before heading back to its property. Couldn’t follow close enough to see if they may have had my hen or if she got away and was in hiding.

Went to the dogs owner and no sign of the chicken being brought there.

I’ve retraced her steps where the feathers were and searched for her a couple times and haven’t found her. The rest of the flock was upset and all went into the coop early. The hen that raised her from a chick made some sad sounds after the coop was closed up.

I’m sharing this hoping to hear some hope from others that she might be okay and just scared and hiding in the woods. The sight of the lost feathers is concerning but no blood is a good sign, right?

Has anyone had something very similar and their hen was found the next day?

She was just about 5 months old, and part of my family. Feeling pretty sad that this happened and that I couldn’t catch the dog in time. Hoping she is out there and will return safely, but worried.

I'm so sorry. Is she a lighter breed? She could have flew into a tree. I hope you find her soon

 

[BDutch]

A dog wandered onto the property today and terrorized my free ranging flock, sent them all scared into hiding in the woods. This was a hunting breed and he pursued one in particular like he was hunting it. I couldn’t reach them in time and heard a couple distress cries and the last one was worse and then nothing since. I traced their route and found several small piles of feathers where she must have fought to get away and then the trail ends. No signs of blood but she is missing

The dog ran off, harassing the other flock members one more time before heading back to its property. Couldn’t follow close enough to see if they may have had my hen or if she got away and was in hiding.

Went to the dogs owner and no sign of the chicken being brought there.

I’ve retraced her steps where the feathers were and searched for her a couple times and haven’t found her. The rest of the flock was upset and all went into the coop early. The hen that raised her from a chick made some sad sounds after the coop was closed up.

I’m sharing this hoping to hear some hope from others that she might be okay and just scared and hiding in the woods. The sight of the lost feathers is concerning but no blood is a good sign, right?

Has anyone had something very similar and their hen was found the next day?

She was just about 5 months old, and part of my family. Feeling pretty sad that this happened and that I couldn’t catch the dog in time. Hoping she is out there and will return safely, but worried.

My chickens are so very afraid for dogs that they flee whenever they see one (except for the friendly labradoodle who lives next door).

I had chickens who went missing , didn’t return before dusk but came back the next day. 2 times I had to pick one up.

A few years ago my Ini mini flew into a fenced garden beyond the neighbours. We have a neighbourhood whatsapp group and I told my chicken went missing, and this ‘neighbour’ responded. I could pick her up and bring her home unharmed. She was extremely talkative when she felt safe and came back to her flockmates.

Just 2 months ago I got a message on the whatsapp group from a ‘neighbour’ who lives down the road. A tiny black chicken was sitting on his dirt container. I went there to pick her up. She was hurt, but had no external wounds. With a little extra attention she healed. She would lie down, and wouldn’t roost in the beginning. It took about a month to heal but now she fine.

Over the years I also had a few chickens that went missing without a clue and never came back. Maybe a dog, a fox or another predator got them. I don’t know bc I hadn’t seen it happen.

I hope you chicken will return. But to increase her chances I would contact all the neighbours within 150 meters and ask if they have seen her.

Please keep us updated.

 

[oneoftheflock4]

A dog wandered onto the property today and terrorized my free ranging flock, sent them all scared into hiding in the woods. This was a hunting breed and he pursued one in particular like he was hunting it. I couldn’t reach them in time and heard a couple distress cries and the last one was worse and then nothing since. I traced their route and found several small piles of feathers where she must have fought to get away and then the trail ends. No signs of blood but she is missing

The dog ran off, harassing the other flock members one more time before heading back to its property. Couldn’t follow close enough to see if they may have had my hen or if she got away and was in hiding.

Went to the dogs owner and no sign of the chicken being brought there.

I’ve retraced her steps where the feathers were and searched for her a couple times and haven’t found her. The rest of the flock was upset and all went into the coop early. The hen that raised her from a chick made some sad sounds after the coop was closed up.

I’m sharing this hoping to hear some hope from others that she might be okay and just scared and hiding in the woods. The sight of the lost feathers is concerning but no blood is a good sign, right?

Has anyone had something very similar and their hen was found the next day?

She was just about 5 months old, and part of my family. Feeling pretty sad that this happened and that I couldn’t catch the dog in time. Hoping she is out there and will return safely, but worried.

Update…

Thanks everyone for your advice and kindness. Unfortunately not good news to share

After tracking where she was chased and searching around the area that first day, only found scenes of feathers and no her.

Hoped that maybe she was hunkered down hiding for the night and would come out the next morning and join the flock for breakfast. No sign of her the next morning

After more searching that next morning, found a scene of more feathers and some paw tracks, and the trail seems to end there.

Think either the dog got her there at the initial incident, or some wildlife got her after.

My first chicken loss. You know it’s a risk and part of the deal but man it sucks to lose one of the flock. Rest in peace my sweet chicken friend.

Sorry for the bummer update. The rest of the flock is doing well and recovering from the incident.

Thanks again community

Ps. I’ll hopefully be posting some more happy news soon. Have a broody hen sitting and her clutch and nest is looking good.

 

[OrpingtonManic]

Update…

Thanks everyone for your advice and kindness. Unfortunately not good news to share

After tracking where she was chased and searching around the area that first day, only found acenes of feathers and not her. Hoped that maybe she was hunkered down hiding for the night and would come out the next morning and join the flock for breakfast. No sign of her the next morning

After more searching that next morning, found a scene of more feathers and some tracks and the trail seems to end there.

Think either the dog got her there at the initial incident, or some wildlife got her after.

My first chicken loss. You know it’s a risk and part of the deal but man it sucks to lose one of the flock. Rest in peace my sweet chicken friend.

Sorry for the bummer update. The rest of the flock is doing well and recovering from the incident.

Thanks again community

Ps. I’ll be posting some more happy news later today

I'm sorry for your loss

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Update…

Thanks everyone for your advice and kindness. Unfortunately not good news to share

After tracking where she was chased and searching around the area that first day, only found scenes of feathers and no her.

Hoped that maybe she was hunkered down hiding for the night and would come out the next morning and join the flock for breakfast. No sign of her the next morning

After more searching that next morning, found a scene of more feathers and some paw tracks, and the trail seems to end there.

Think either the dog got her there at the initial incident, or some wildlife got her after.

My first chicken loss. You know it’s a risk and part of the deal but man it sucks to lose one of the flock. Rest in peace my sweet chicken friend.

Sorry for the bummer update. The rest of the flock is doing well and recovering from the incident.

Thanks again community

Ps. I’ll be posting hopefully some more happy news soon. Have a broody hen sitting and her clutch and nest is looking good

Sorry you lost her. It stinks when you lose your chickens.

 

[oneoftheflock4]

Wow, I'm so sorry to hear about this! I hope the owner of that dog knows now to keep it on a chain or in a kennel!

Actually this afternoon we had a rooster chase a couple of the same age into the woods. They came back up but then saw I was missing my chocolate rooster Mocha. I got hubby and we found him under a branch and blended it with the dead leaves. Ours can't fly, can yours? Maybe she is up on a tree branch? I'd go out at night and look for her hiding under branches in the leaves or up in a tree.

Thank you and so glad you found yours. This was a sad situation where she was in a panicked chase away rather than up into a tree and didn’t return. Just posted an update on the thread

 

[oneoftheflock4]

I'm sorry for your loss