Dead hen

[Bdbutton]

So I just went out to check on my 3 girls and found my BO laying outside the coop dead. She was torn to shreds! I suspect a raccoon because I saw a footprint but it was mid morning and they usually aren’t out in the daytime. And I can’t believe we didn’t hear anything. I am so upset and at a loss as to how this could have happened. And why wouldn’t they have gone after the other two?

 

[JBG acres]

I am so sorry for your loss. We lost a few chickens early in the day to a raccoon a couple years ago. That's when I learned that raccoons will sometimes be out during the day to find food for their new babies. I hope you are able to catch it to get rid of it. Im sure it will probably be back. I'm glad your other two are ok.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That's always devastating.
What is your location and are you sure it was mid-morning?

 

[danceswithronin]

Could it have been a stray dog?

 

[Bdbutton]

That's always devastating.
What is your location and are you sure it was mid-morning?

We are in Northern California. My husband opened the coop around 6 a.m. and I found her around 10. So it was sometime between 6 and 10.

 

[Bdbutton]

Could it have been a stray dog?

No, we have a fenced yard.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

So raccoon is possible. But I would look at fox, coyote, bobcat, hawk, owl.
The fence height can determine if a coyote can get in.

 

[Bdbutton]

So raccoon is possible. But I would look at fox, coyote, bobcat, hawk, owl.
The fence height can determine if a coyote can get in.

We are I an urban area so I doubt that it could be any of those. I’m have only seen raccoons in this area.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm in an urban area too. We have all those as well as mink and weasels except not the bobcat - so far. I've had coyotes walk through the yard at all times of the day and night. Chicago is the coyote capitol of the world. I've observed a fox grab a hen right in front of me on two occasions. Hawks and owls don't mind houses.
We've had mountain lions and bears sighted 10-15 miles from my house.

 

[bobbi-j]

So I just went out to check on my 3 girls and found my BO laying outside the coop dead. She was torn to shreds! I suspect a raccoon because I saw a footprint but it was mid morning and they usually aren’t out in the daytime. And I can’t believe we didn’t hear anything. I am so upset and at a loss as to how this could have happened. And why wouldn’t they have gone after the other two?

Raccoons are often out in the daylight.

We are I an urban area so I doubt that it could be any of those. I’m have only seen raccoons in this area.

It could have been any of them. All of those animals live in urban areas.