Chicken kindapper

[jimbob86]

No, what?

Moral superiority, real or imagined, won't save a hen from anything.

 

[youtubeminer]

Really are rooster fight to the death to procet the hens?

 

[jimbob86]

Even if it was an absolutely fearless 10 pound rooster, it would be a very short "fight to the death" with a coyote or fox twice his weight or better......

 

[Bryant Redhawk]

upon studying your photos closer I would say this was the work of an owl, note the leg is clean where other animals would either chew into the end to get the last bits of meat but this one looks like a knife was used. The beak of an owl is very suited to that sort of precision. Also the lack of foot impressions at both places say that it was not a four leg that did this. Now if there was digging at the coop or run, you should be able to see something of the foot prints or even claw marks from the nails of the beast. Skunks will dig but they normally do so in a round hole methodology and while it would not be impossible it is unlikely they would go after a live chicken, plus you would usually smell them since the rooster would have attacked at least once to try and scare it off.

Most of our digging around is done by foxes (I just found a den on our property yesterday). I think we don't have issues with the foxes because of our dogs barking. I will be putting up one of our game cameras tonight to find out for sure. If you don't have one, I do recommend getting a game camera, they are very helpful for finding out what comes to visit while you are sleeping. Ours are equipped with IR lighting that is "No Glow" and they take great pictures out to 40 feet from the lens. One set of batteries will last a year when we use stills but they only last about 6 months if we use the video feature. We found them at Dick's Sporting Goods and they were not really expensive 100 dollars each.

 

[tacmomma12]

Having roosters keeps the hens 'safer' but nothing will keep them 100% safe. Truth is almost nothing will except vigilance on your part. I'm sorry for the loss of your hen. I've lost three hens to hawks, and one of them was carried off no problem at all. She was my absolute favorite and I miss her the most.

I'm inclined to agree with owl as a possible culprit, but the best way to know for sure is set up some sort of surveilance of the area.
The digging is the only thing that doesn't sound like a bird of prey. Hoping you are able to catch the culprit!

 

[beginnergirl]

A Coopers hawk can carry off a cocker spaniel.

So sorry for your loss. I can't help ID the predator.

Coopers hawks are small- only about 18" long and weigh about a pound. They usually eat songbirds like robins but could kill chickens. Doubt a 1# bird could carry a 20# dog though!
I've seen them kill and eat prey on the ground. Around here, (we have several nests nearby), there is often a pile of scattered feathers. They leave carcasses too.

 

[Bryant Redhawk]

This description is from National Geographic:

The “chicken hawk” of colonial America, this medium-sized accipiter is a common sight at home bird feeders across the country, swooping in to nab an unwary dove or jay. Females are larger and bulkier than males, juveniles differ from adults. Monotypic. Length 14–20" (36–51 cm); wingspan 29–37" (74–94cm).
Identification The long tail is rounded at the tip, also the relatively short wings and flat-topped head are good field marks. Eye is close to the beak. Crown merges with forehead and bill in a smooth line. Adult: blue-gray upperparts, the crown is darker and contrasts with the lighter nape and buffy cheeks, giving the look of wearing a “beret.” Eye color is orange to red. Undersides with rufous barring, undertail is white. Juvenile: brown above, with rufous edges and white spots on upperwing coverts. Tail long, with straight bands and wide, white tip that wears down by spring. Head usually buffy, eyes pale yellow. Undersides are white with thin brown streaks, white undertail. Flight: wings typically held straight out from body, head, and neck projecting forward. This along with tail length make a “flying cross” appearance. Shallow, quick wingbeats alternate with short glides.
Geographic Variation Western populations hunting more open country are smaller, with longer wings, shorter legs than eastern birds. Plumages are alike.
Similar Species Northern goshawk is usually larger, heavier appearing, and has relatively shorter tail and longer wings. Sharp-shinned hawk is smaller and has a square tail.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

So sorry for your loss. I can't help ID the predator.

Coopers hawks are small- only about 18" long and weigh about a pound. They usually eat songbirds like robins but could kill chickens. Doubt a 1# bird could carry a 20# dog though!  
I've seen them kill and eat prey on the ground. Around here, (we have several nests nearby), there is often a pile of scattered feathers. They leave carcasses too.

No Cooper's hawks are bigger, there is one called a sharp shinned hawk that is a mini of the coopers, I believe that is what you are talking about

 

[beginnergirl]

No Cooper's hawks are bigger, there is one called a sharp shinned hawk that is a mini of the coopers, I believe that is what you are talking about

Violetfeathers,
Here is the info on Cooper's Hawk:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Coopers_Hawk/lifehistory

They are 15"-18" long. Weigh about 1 pound. Not capable of carrying off a cocker spaniel. That was my point.

 

[youtubeminer]

Hey I've been seeing a lot of cooper hawks