I lost my favorite hen this morning. I only had 2 Buff Orpingtons and one was a rooster. I decided to save the rooster to breed this spring just for the fun of it. This morning I let all the hens out to free range like we do every day. A few hours later I went out to do some work and I saw some feathers in the yard. When I looked at them I knew it was my Buff. I found the body about a hundered feet away. The head was gone and the back was tore. It looked fresh and the body wasnt stiff so I knew it just happend. I dont know what killed it? I have been keeping this darn rooster seperate and it is a real pain to do that in the winter. Now I have to decide if I want to keep the rooster. He is really beautiful. I realy dont want to have to wait to raise another hen then breed next summer. I just thought it would be fun to breed them and let them hatch and get raised naturaly. We put the rest of the hens back in the run. I think we will keep them penned up for the rest of the winter.
I'm so sorry for your loss! Sounds like a raccoon attack as they usually sleep for a week or so and then have one big meal before going to sleep again, in winter of course.
I had a coyote attack which left two headless -- my neighbor actually say the coyotes, so there is no doubt. Too bad he was too far away to do anything about it. I'm not saying it wasn't a coo, I think that's a good guess, only that it's not the only possibility. I don't like being without a roo because if they're good at their job at all, they can save hens' lives by distracting the predator or even sacrificing themselves. They will also send the hens running to safety while they stand up to the predator. Besides, they're so beautiful!
Daytime attack effectively rules out racoon or oppossum. Fox and coyotes would take a single bird off. Hawk most likely perp. Head of prey often consumed first by hawk and such likes to pull feathers before going after meat in one spot and spreading out from there.
I was thinking Hawk too. We do have one that flies around our yard alot. We have had a chick taken at night and I think that one was a racoon. We live at the edge of town and about a mile from the river so it could be anything.
