chicken disappeared-cat?

[amybamber]

I have new neighbors, whose 3 cats come into my yard and attack my cat and disrupt my chickens. Yesterday I had to take my cat in to the vet for an absess on his leg, now he is miserable with a cone on his neck. And is inside.
The cats bother my chickens routinely, and I go out and chase the cat away. Yesterday he was bothering my broody hen. She refused to go into the chicken house because she wanted to sleep on her nest. I have a small backyard with a 6 foot fence in town. there are no foxes or anything so it has been safe, until these cats showed up. Last night around midnight, I woke up to her screeching, which I relate to the cat being present. Before I could get outside, she made a big terrible sound. Worse than i've ever heard. Then 2 really terrible death screams. Thats what it sounded like. I was outside then and I heard one last death scream. I searched and searched and she was no where. This morning I searched again, in the alley and in the next door neighbors yard, and I don't see any trace of her.
Is it possible that a medium cat could have killed her and jumped over the fence with her and taken her away? She is literally gone. She was a medium sized buff orphington. I'm in shock. A large bird wouldn't have been active that time of night, and I never see owls here. She was nesting under a gooseberry bush, pretty secure and lots of thorns. I just can't imagine that the cat could have made that jump up the fence with her in his mouth.

 

[shortgrass]

I don't think a cat could even kill a grown chicken, much less hop the fence with it... My gut says dog... Have you walked the fence line of your yard, checked for digging? Are you in a town that may possibly have raccoon? They are well known for infiltrating townships and they can most definitely kill and carry off a full grown hen...

I'm just not thinking cat.... But I've also seen some pretty nasty toms... Never seen one even try at the chooks though....dogs, yes.

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry! Chickens need to be locked in a predator proof coop every night, because they are easy prey for any predator when roosting. Sometimes some cats will kill a chicken, and a broody trying to protect chicks is most vulnerable. No cat could carry a standard chicken over a fence, though. You very likely have lots of critters out there; dogs, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, opossums, owls, just to name a few. Also weasels. In the past I lost birds to nocturnal predators, because I didn't have them in that Ft. Knox coop that they needed. It was a tough learning curve for my birds! Your predator will return until either your birds are safely in, or are all dead. A game camera will be helpful if you set one up. Only live trap if plan to kill varmits and send feral cats to the shelter. mary

 

[amybamber]

Thanks for the insight shortgrass...I am searching for holes!