Thank you for all the replies. It totally has driven me crazy thinking about it. I had no idea a raccoon could do that. We had 2 big dogs that lurk all over but, my old dog died recently and we only have one now. The old dog that died, ironically was a bird dog. But he learned quickly not...
Really ?????????????? A raccoon or possum could pull it out and carry it away??? Seriously??? She was a big black hen. Yes, we do have them. I've seen raccoons come up to my back door and look in at us. So they would actually do this during the morning and take a whole chicken to eat it...
I have had chickens as pets for 10 years. We don't eat them, just the eggs. I've witnessed hawks swooping down and I've seen piles of feathers in our yard and actually followed the feathers to the 'carcas'.... Hawks have succeeded and I think an occasional bobcat.
Our chickens are free...