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

[htre]

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.

 

[chickluvinfreak]

Probably a hawk since it didn't take her (an orpington would probably be too heavy to carry off). And I've seen hawks kill animals and not eat them.

 

[Earl Medcalf]

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

 

[cmom]

So sorry for your loss. I don't free range anymore due to losses in the past from predators. I have nice large pens with electric wires around the coops and pens, good heavy duty netting covering the pens and concrete under the gates all due to losses. I also have several game cameras up on my property. Most nights, when they roam here, I see a predator on at least one of the cameras. Your predator will be back. Good luck...
http://www.poultrydvm.com/featured-infographic/tips-for-protecting-poultry-from-predators

 

[ChickenGrass]

Oh no!

I am not sure what killed her but
I hope you feel better soon about it.
Again
goodluck,
Fionn.

 

[htre]

Thank you. It's the first loss in our flock

 

[chickluvinfreak]

What predators are in your area? I'd say it was a smaller predator (non canine) since it didn't carry her off. Very sorry for your loss

 

[ChickenGrass]

I was just thinking again,
And I wondered could it have been killed by something
And then eaten by a hawk?

 

[htre]

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.

 

[TroyerSis]

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.