12 chickens dead, 3 missing - any ideas on what did it?

[JennyHaines]

Went out to the chicken pen this morning and had a sad sight. We have about 1/4 acre fenced for the chickens to free range and just saw chickens everywhere dead. Found 12 dead and 3 more were missing out of my total 51. The ones that were dead, 3 were missing heads and necks and the rest all had broken necks, very little blood. They were all over the pen, but mostly near the fence. One of the headless ones had been mostly eaten except for wings and legs. We have had a hawk about a month ago kill two chickens but I can't see a hawk killing this many, also was at night. Anyone have any ideas on what it could be? We've got them shut up tonight but I'm trying to figure out what the best way to protect them is going to be.

 

[ladyrsanti]

Fox? I'm not sure so I'll leave it up to the more experienced folks but it sounds like a fox to me.

 

[centrarchid]

If fox, or even raccoon, then waite out starting before time you think it came last time. It will likely come back. Rifle. If raccoon then set out livetrap. Coyote might have been culprit as well, possibly even dog although later usually does not eat catch, I say usually.

 

[Yolk]

A raccoon will leave this type of carnage or maybe it could of been 1 or more owls.

 

[Island Roo]

Any sign of a break-in? It can give clues to the size of the animal.
Hole in fence, tunnel under it, broken gate, etc.

 

[EggieRowe]

Sounds like what wiped out my hens earlier this year. Some completely gone, some decapitated, and one 75% eaten over the course of a week. Very little feathers and no blood. When I dismantled the coop I found two perfect, muddy raccoon prints on the back side of the coop facing the fence. We were moving so I didn't camp out with the .22, but that would have been my solution.