Lost a chicken today. Pleas help me identify the predator. GRAPHIC PHOTO ATTACHED.

htre

Hatching
Apr 22, 2016
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We lost one of our poor girls today. Please help me identify the predator so I can do my best to protect the rest of our flock. The photo is graphic so beware.
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I live in NJ. Most common predators are hawks and fox,but I don't know why it would leave her behind. I'm scared for the rest of our girls. It was a hard thing to have to take care of! Thank you.
 
Maybe a raccoon? One of our girls was killed not to long ago by some critter. A raccoon got in the coop once. The predator killed our hen just like that... might have been looking for eggs, that was the only part of our hen that was eaten. Sometimes, you can't help it when something gets your girls. You can fence them and run a electrical wire on the top and bottom. We haven't had any predator issues since fencing our hens.
 
Predator not a mammal. Canine or bobcat would pack it off. Raccoon or oppossum would leave a slobbery look on feathers.

Raptor is the killer. If night time, then an owl. If during the day the most likely a hawk although owls will hunt during day this time of year, especially when sky overcast.

Carcass below known to be caused by a Great-horned Owl. During the day a Red-tailed Hawk fed off the same carcass. Owl removed the carcass on second night after kill made.

Victim a free-range American Dominique cock approximately 7 lbs at time killed. He was roosting with three others in an exposed location.

From thread linked: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/posts/add/threadId/1090039/toquote/17805211
 
Such a shame, I am so sorry. What was interesting to me was that the predator didn't bother with the head or neck, just left her with that huge gaping hole. Our chickens have been free range for their short 9 month life span and unfortunately we will have to keep them locked up from now on. Our run has a roof over it, I'm hoping that will be helpful. It's such a loss, they were so happy roaming about everyday! Every time we keep them locked in they just wait by the run door all day, waiting to be let out. I need to research some ideas to keep them busy.
 

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