any idea what predator did this?

[aart]

Chickens can die of heart attacks when attacked by a predator...even tho they may be healthy.

 

[Poultry parent]

she wasn't even a year old though

 

[aart]

she wasn't even a year old though

Age doesn't always matter.

 

[Jeanierose]

An Opossum ate one of my chickens last October...just before winter they are desperate for food. They attack on the ground, also they can scare the hens enough that they fly over the fence. Raccoons also attack but usually pull the feathers out trying to catch the hen.

See if there is an opossum hanging out above the coop at night.


Good Luck!

Jeanie

 

[Poultry parent]

she was bitten on her thigh. i've never seen an opossum around where i live but i have seen a fox

 

[bobbi-j]

we live in the mountains in virginia, i read somewhere that mink, and ermine would leave a skunky odor is that true?

They can have a musky odor, but it doesn't always linger like a skunk's does.

no chew marks. and i don't think that it was a heart attack as she was fit, lean, and it looked like what killed her was blood loss i think.
i haven't seen any signs of rats, no droppings, or anything like that

It could have been a heart attack. I thought weasel when you mentioned blood loss, but in my experience they usually go for the neck or under the wings. When I've had losses to weasels, they have left little bite marks - kind of like "vampire" marks and just lapped up the blood.

she was bitten on her thigh. i've never seen an opossum around where i live but i have seen a fox

That doesn't mean you don't have them. If you ever get a chance, put out a game camera. You might be surprised at what's lurking around in the night...

 

[Poultry parent]

i know that i might still have them, i just haven't seen evidence of them.
i have seen a fox, and raccoon prints though

 

[Brookiejo]

It could have been a weseal. Put hair(dog hair, people hair) around your coop so the animal thinks you are there.