Feathers with beak impressions?

[azahn]

Two of my plump, Speckled Sussex hens have been attacked in the past 4 days. I haven't found hen #2, that went missing yesterday at dusk only 30 mins after I let them out to free range. In looking for her, I found the feathers from Wednesday afternoon's attack on hen #1. No carcass, no bones, just a circular area of cleanly plucked feathers approx 60 feet from coop in border of yard with taller grass. Have had Coopers hawks problems before, but never with larger hens, only bantams. Ran across a university paper regarding predators and sometimes the feathers will leave clues, like the impression of a hawk beak (?). I'm 70% sure hawk, but seriously wondering fox. An

y of you feather experts have an opinion? I can't make anything out, but these 3 SEEM to have a definite crushed spot unlike the others. Thanks ahead of time. Sniff!

 

[Folly's place]

Keep everyone locked in until this is resolved, or you will keep loosing birds. If it's a hawk, two weeks of no chicken dinners will probably discourage it so it moves on. Setting up live traps may get your ground predator. I've never used a game camera, but it's a great idea too. Mary

 

[azahn]

Mary, sorry for the tardy reply. Bobcat was the problem.

 

[Flock In Texas]

Mary, sorry for the tardy reply. Bobcat was the problem.

We have a bobcat in our neighborhood too. It ran off with a neighbor's chicken around 5pm last Thursday. Their neighbor saw the cat with the chicken in it's mouth. I saw it the night before and warned everybody on Nextdoor, but she didn't check it until after the attack.

I think I will invest in a trap when I complete the coop.

 

[Folly's place]

Electrified poultry fencing is a very good idea here! Mary