4 dead chickens, necks stripped.

[chick80512]

We had 8 chickens, this morning we only had 4. 3 of the dead chickens were in the coop. One was drug out and found 100 feet roughly from the coop. All with their necks stripped down to muscle/bone. Just their necks and a couple had the tops of their breasts exposed. We had automatically blamed the barn cat but I'm doubting the barn cat could've moved the fencing. Especially enough to get the one chicken out. We're not sure how the animal got in or out, as the fencing was skewed but no noticable holes or anything. Also, one of each breed was killed (I doubt that has any importance though and is a fluke). Any ideas? (animal probably would've had to lift the fencing as we have fencing across the top that is wired.)

Fencing is 1" no-climb squares, 16 gauge I believe. No bottom as it's in our detached garage. I'm guessing the predator must have gone through the bottom...

 

[aart]

Raccoon, maybe fox? Full grown chickens taken? Find any hairs at the bottom of the fence..... maybe where's there's some feathers (and/or signs of some digging) too? How big is the mesh of the fencing?

Set out a trap, be ready to dispatch, and/or a game cam maybe, see what you're dealing with.

 

[chick80512]

No digging, detached garage has cement floor. Full grown chickens were killed, eggs stolen as well, as they usually lay a few overnight and there were none this morning. I'll look for hairs!

 

[FeatheredDinos]

No digging, detached garage has cement floor. Full grown chickens were killed, eggs stolen as well, as they usually lay a few overnight and there were none this morning. I'll look for hairs!

This just happened at my place - very strange - just as you described. Seems to have been a battle but the raw neck has me baffled. I’m suspecting a hawk - because before the 2 kills -about 2-3 weeks apart - I had been noticing that chicken’s hair on head looked strange. I noticed it on all white chickens - and one black Polish with white fluffy head.
My birds free range during the day and are VERY secure at night. It had to happen during the day while they were out. I’m thinking a hawk has been swooping down trying to grab them - but they are too heavy. I saw a hawk one day - I thought it was a squirrel the way it ran up and through the trees as I approached. I’m pretty sure he was trying to get one of them that day.
The second one - he ate most of it - on the ground by the run. All I can say is I better not see him again ... I love my chickens!