Dead bantam hen

[yoshiwrangler]

So I got home from work right at dusk and went outside to lock the girls up for the night and couldn't find my little white silkie during headcount. I found some small chunks of flesh with feathers attached in the run, and found her body outside the run. Abdomen is completely eaten away, her head, neck, and some of her crop are still present. No obvious signs of entry from the ground, but we have had some recent opossum issues. The run was scheduled to be re-covered with netting this weekend, as there are some areas that have come uncovered. I'm thinking it was a raptor, but would love some input

 

[Cyprus]

Sounds very much like the work of a possum.
I've had possum kills in the past.
So sorry

 

[yoshiwrangler]

Sounds very much like the work of a possum.
I've had possum kills in the past.
So sorry

Thanks for the input and the hugs. I'm super bummed you still think it was a possum at that time of day? Kill happened between 3-5pm with plenty of light still.

 

[MissChick@dee]

So sorry
It’s never easy. I might suggest that you be extra vigilant what ever it was it’ll be back. Had to wait out the
Hawk (or falcon) in my avatar for 2 weeks as they migrated. Your others are probably pretty spooked right now since it happened so close to the run. Mine actually didn’t want to come out. If it’s a raptor you could just slap up some chicken wire across the top until you can get to it.
Again sorry for your loss.

 

[Cyprus]

Thanks for the input and the hugs. I'm super bummed you still think it was a possum at that time of day? Kill happened between 3-5pm with plenty of light still.

Could be. Possums can be out during daylight.
There are few predators known only to eat the guts.

 

[scrambled please]

I’m in the bird of prey camp. Sounds just horrible. So sorry.

 

[PattyNH]

So sorry for your loss

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Oh noooooo, that’s so sad! I agree with the above! So sorry this had to happen to your hen

 

[toredano]

So.. I came to the conclusion.. white birds that freerange or roost at night in a tree.. are gone...

1. Went and got Guinea fowl.. 10.. 1 was pure white.... first nite.. gone
2. Got some Seramas.. 2 white.. gone within 3 days( they started to roost in a different place and I could not lock them up at nite( my fault)
Another white hen gone..

Possums come out early now to forage.. they need protein.. we have shot about 15 so far on our property. I lost my horse to EPM ( cancer, Cushings and EPM)..I will not tolerate any more of those things. I am so sorry for your loss..I hate losing any birds.. now my coops are intruder safe actually...Its just the dumb little birds who I cant catch anymore now..

 

[sourland]

Raptor. Bottom line is that whatever it was, it will return. Cover and fortify your pen and coop.