Keep an eye out for any wild bird nests nearby. It turned out our mites were originating from a mourning dove nest about 15 ft from the coop. Once I removed that nest, I was finally able to wipe out the mites. GL!
And do you think a hawk would kill with a clean neck break? The chicken was untouched other than that. I think it was our resident crows that kept the predator from eating the chicken.
I lost a silkie pullet a few days ago to some kind of bird of prey. I just assumed it was a Cooper's Hawk, although I only caught a glimpse of it peripherally as it flew away. I've never seen a hawk near my property before, and now I've learned that there is a family of Peregrines nesting...