7 birds missing- trying to identify predator

[PaisyQ]

While free ranging today, seven of my chickens disappeared. I was not home at the time, but when I came home I found about five or six piles of feathers that could identify at least three of my birds. There are no other signs that anything went wrong. I am trying to figure out what might have taken seven of my birds, and left only feathers. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[lazy gardener]

Fox, coyote.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

At this time of year both foxes and coyotes are weaning their pups and in the process teaching them how to hunt. Therefor these predators cripple a lot of chickens and carry the still living birds back to the den for the fox & coyote pups to play with and practice killing over and over again. The natural world is in no way pretty its just natural.

 

[PaisyQ]

Thank you for the insights. I’ve had trouble with raccoons and dogs in the past, but never experienced anything like this before. I guess I will have to limit free range time for the remaining birds for now.

I’m wondering if it would be better to keep them locked up completely for a while, or if I can let them out for a couple hours a day while I’m home to monitor things?