As far as internet goes, or even just talking to other bird owners, you will find that nearly all of the predators at times will only take the head. Owls are also pretty well known to take the head. They mostly hunt at night, but it is not unheard of for daylight hunting. I remember an owl that stayed out all day hooting, hunting the whole 9 yards. He was around for years and everyday he was out doing his thing. Cats will eat just the head of a lot of the animals they kill. I have read posts on here of people having problems with feral cats. I do not know if one could take a full blown hen down or not. But, if one did, it would probably be the head they would eat or take off with. And, as I posted earlier, hawks will sometimes just take the head. It does not mean that is what they do every time. And, they mostly hunt during the day. Also, most predators will kill a chicken by biting the neck and/or biting/ripping the head off. And, as someone posted earlier, it is not unheard of for a raccoon to be out during the day as could skunks, opossum, etc.. It is not the usual way they go about it but it is possible. Whatever it was may have killed it and got spooked off and grabbed the head up and ran off.
