I really need help on determining which predator is my problem. I have had my chickens for almost two years and never lost one. I guess that is why this loss is so devastating!! My chickens are in a fenced 1 acre yard and have a big wooded area where they can hide. My babies hear the door open and they always come running and this time they did not. Even when I walked through the gate they were still hiding in the wooded area. Finally when I got close they started to come out just a couple of feet and that is when I found one of my girls brutally attacked. It happened between 1-3 in the afternoon. I walked all around the fenced area and saw no signs of entry under the fence. My fence is about 5 ft tall and I have never had a issue with any dogs. My chicken had 1/2 her side eaten away and her head ripped off and feathers everywhere. My thoughts are that raccoons dont come out in the middle of the day and that they usually carry their catch away with them. Then also I was not sure if a hawk usually rips the chicken's head off. I have seen hawks around before but they look small so would they really have the ability to rip the head off. All information and advice would be greatly appreciated. This was really heart wrenching and I do not want this to happened again! These guys are my babies!!
