Any guesses from this smudged print?

[chickenMamee]

looks like a coon print to me

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I have to agree with the fellow from Jerry Clower's home state. That definitely looks like the rear footprint of a coon.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

Looks like a mink to me.

 

[Smdoty]

Ok guys, the perpetrator struck again last night. We lost two birds. One was 2-3 months old and all that was left was some feathers. The other was a 3 year old hen that was dragged a few hundred feet from the coop and left, not eaten. The only way whatever it was could have gotten in and gotten that bird out would have been through the door. I closed the door at dusk, so whatever it was got them while it was still light out.

 

[HappyDancin']

Dang it!
I'm sorry for your losses.

Door? What type of door is it? Human door or chicken door?

I question my original thought of a raccoon now. A diurnal predator...could it be a bobcat? I just had one come around last night - I couldn't believe it. It strolled right up - luckily, I was out with the chickens. It was about 8 pm (it gets dark at about 8:30 this time of year).

 

[Smdoty]

The door is the chicken door that’s about 8”x11”. I’ve not seen any bobcats, but there is a pretty major river along the backside of my property, maybe 1/2 mile away. Where the woods end a cornfield starts and it stretches up to about 20’ from my coop, so there is plenty of cover available for predators going up and down the river.

 

[aart]

The door is the chicken door that’s about 8”x11”. I’ve not seen any bobcats, but there is a pretty major river along the backside of my property, maybe 1/2 mile away. Where the woods end a cornfield starts and it stretches up to about 20’ from my coop, so there is plenty of cover available for predators going up and down the river.

Sounds like you need a secure run.

 

[Smdoty]

Sounds like you need a secure run.

It’s only an issue on years that corn is planted. I really like free ranging my birds because they eat a lot less.

 

[Stepnout]

Raccoon, I’d say

 

[Wil781]

What ever it is more security is needed for the birds. If free ranging during the day bring them in an hour or so before dark especially with that cornfield 20' from the coop I would bring them in while sun is still out, a little less free range is worth the safety of your chickens. A weasel can squeeze through a very small hole so I would try and secure all holes larger than a quarter, easily done with 1/4" hardware cloth. Set a live trap and when you catch the varmit let us know exactly what it is. I'm betting on a raccoon!