Ideas on what killed my hen?

[TSW99]

I got home late the other day and it was already dark and I walk in my coop to see a decapitated hen torn up. All my other babies were scared to death, and I don't know what killed her, mabe a hawk or ratcoon? It looks like her insides were picked out there are many hawks in the area but I didn't think they would go in my coop?

Sorry about the grainy photo it's all I got cause I put the dead hen under a turned over wheelbarrow to bury in the morning but something dug her out.
Any ideas on who the culprit is?

 

[taprock]

My guess would be racoon or weasel. Hawk pluck the feathers out and leave a circle of them around the body. Raccoons are notorious for eating heads.

 

[Bigwig]

Do you have minks in you area? Because they will take the head off sometimes.

 

[TSW99]

Here in florida there are minks but they are not common at all
I wish I knew when it happened because I was gone all day up in till around 9pm
The head wasn't eaten it was just sitting by the body

 

[Ravynscroft]

Do you have possums there? That'd be another possibility. Had one take out a pullet just last night.

 

[TSW99]

Yes we have possums
so would yall think that hawks are pretty much ruled out?

 

[Ravynscroft]

There is always a possibility of a hawk, as they have been reported to follow chooks into a coop, but it is more likely a different predator. If it happened after dark, I'd say not a hawk. Also, hawks stand on their prey and rip it apart, so most of their leftovers show signs of that. I'd be looking for a furry, 4 footed culprit, JMO... sorry for your loss and good luck

 

[TSW99]

Alright well I will have to be more mindfully since there is a preditor in the area.
Thanks to all who helped
-Travis