What kind of predator?

[dskullz]

What kind of predator takes 3 older/ bigger chicks without a trace within maybe an hour or so but leaves the rest of the group of 10 or so just sitting there? I think the most likely is a rat or a hawk but find it odd if it was a hawk that it took 3 and if it was a rat it left the rest unharmed.

 

[Cyprus]

Raccoons would be my guess.
They tend to bring the whole family, steal multiple birds, and take off with the whole carcass.

 

[Motherhen25]

Were they out free ranging? Cooped up? What time of day?
This will help me narrow it down to the main culprit

 

[dskullz]

Were they out free ranging? Cooped up? What time of day?
This will help me narrow it down to the main culprit

They were out in our yard. I was out there to lock up about a half hour late. The big hens were in the coop already but the doors were wide open and they would've been totally accessible to ehatwhat. The chicks pile in a corner by our window well and I take them to the coop when I go to lock up and 3 were missing. I searched everywhere but can't find anything. I was out at 6 to throw out scratch so sometime between then and 9:30. So pretty dark bit still some light. I feel so bad if I had been out on time maybe they wouldn't have been gotten!

 

[llombardo]

I don't think a hawk at the time. If anything from above-maybe an owl?

 

[aart]

How old were chicks?
Could have been about anything, but most likely 4 legged.

 

[ThatsneakyHen]

I agree with @aart, It's most likely 4 legged. Is the coop closed at the top?