Death in the family

[spotted hen2700]

Hi we are new to the chicken world and are having a great time watching the chicks grow into young ladies and since Christmas we have received about 2 dozen eggs from the girls. I drove in today to find feathers all over the place. We do live out in the sticks.
There was piles of soft breast and back feathers in piles here and there but there was no blood on any of the feathers. The feathers looked like they were pulled from the bird and dropped, there was a trail at least 150' long. We never found the bird nor did I find and foot prints in the mud. My vote is a hawk... and help would be great.
Thanks,
Tom and Joy

 

[donnavee]

Hard to say, but I know the hawks have really been flying over our yard more than normal lately. We have chickens & ducks who normally free range but I have had to quit that during the winter because the trees are bare and so they can be seen a lot easier. I did criss cross a bunch of fishing line over a small area to give them a little more room. Were the rest of your chickens hiding out when you got home. We had what was probably a hawk attack a few months ago and the ducks and chickens were all hiding - they refused to go outside for 3 days so whatever it was really scared them.

 

[spotted hen2700]

Sorry I have taken so long to get back to you, and thank you for your help. I know what the bad guy is... a gray fox. I have set live traps to try to get him. I know it has to make a living also but not on my watch. I will move it to a new area when I get it.