What attacked my chicken??? **graphic photo of dead chicken**

So I'm kind of at a loss with this one. We lost a chicken about a year ago and it was attacked in a similar fashion. At the base of the body. But a LOT of the chicken was leftover, like with what happened today. We had our old coop when the other happened and we always left the door open so we understand how she could have been attacked. We have been closing doors ever since.

However, now we have a new coop and I am at a total loss as to what happened. ALL of the doors were closed. The coop is off the ground so an animal can't dig to get in. The nesting box lids are kept closed with a latch system. Yet I come out to find the lid on the ground and a dead chicken outside. What the heck?!?

Our youngest chicks have been sleeping UNDER the coop because the pecking order is still being sorted out. Last night was the first night I actually got them out from under and put them IN the coop. So glad I did, but now wonder if it's my fault?

Are my chickens eating each other? I think it's kind of odd that the first night I force the chicks to sleep IN the coop an adult chicken dies. But maybe it was me listening to my gut and I saved myself from more casualties?

Anyways, any help would be greatly appreciated.

I don't want to scare you but where do you live because that definitely looks like some thing a bear would leave behind. Therese

I don't want to scare you but where do you live because that definitely looks like some thing a bear would leave behind. Therese

Could it have been a raccoon? They are smart enough to handle latches.

Probably a raccoon, how was the nest box lid on there,I'm not seeing any hinges and how did the latch function?

Is the head still on the chicken? Coons are known for eating the head and neck. However they usaly are known for killing the entire flock for fun (same with foxes). I personally believe it could of been a dog or coyote. (Is there even hinges connecting the roof of the nesting box to the house?)

I’m sorry for your loss. That’s brutal. If the latch was definitely closed, I’d say raccoon. I don’t know of any other predator that could undo the latch.

Did you try PoultryDVM's poultry predator identification tool?