Broad daylight predator attack

[mdc05]

I suspect a raccoon, but it's totally broad daylight and my daughter and a neighbor dog were playing yards away. I heard a hen going crazy, went out a few minutes later and found a bird that has been sick (still trying to figure out with what) was near our gate, head and neck completely off about 15 feet from the body near their coop, as was a complete ring of tail feathers. There were also some of her feathers scattered outside of the gate, so that initially, I was looking for her head outside the yard. Our birds that have been sick have been laying around, and haven't been able to see really well, but still - in the broad daylight to be killed like that? I never see the typical predators roaming our yard in daylight. We have hawks, but I haven't seen any out today. Any ideas?

Edited to say hubby picked up the body and it was stiff. So likely a raccoon last night.

 

[ryanhodapp]

so sorry to hear that. If you have sick birds, I think they are easy prey. So put them up tight.

 

[mdc05]

Thanks. We've had a terrible few weeks with them. We have lost 4 just to illness and now this one. We were hoping she could recover from whatever they have, but then this. It's been pretty heartbreaking

 

[chickens really]

Your attack sounds like a Hawk to me...That is too bad..Buy a Plastic Owl..My friend has them and she says they work...

Cheers!