First loss

[ammyg]

I lost one of my girls today. I woke up and noticed some feathers. I am not sure what could of got her as the feathers were in one spot. Nothing leading in or out, not any remaining parts. The other 3 are fine nothing seemed to happen to them. I am thinking a hawk but they have never attempted to get them before. Sad to say she was my favorite and a great egg layer and overall bird. Could just be I was not home like normal the past 2 days checking on them and that is what allowed it to happen. Feel bad how scared she was..

 

[Birdsong 82]

I'm so sorry The first loss seems like it would be the hardest don't no that it gets any easier though. How big was your girl? Most hawks can't completely take off with a full size chicken. They can lift it but not very far and will certainly kill the chicken. Where were the feathers.... in the yard or in the run or in the coop?
Again I am so sorry for your loss

 

[featherhead007]

dammit, it's always our favorite, sweetest birds that get hurt or killed. I understand, and feel for you!

 

[ammyg]

I'm so sorry The first loss seems like it would be the hardest don't no that it gets any easier though. How big was your girl? Most hawks can't completely take off with a full size chicken. They can lift it but not very far and will certainly kill the chicken. Where were the feathers.... in the yard or in the run or in the coop?
Again I am so sorry for your loss

She was not to big. The feathers were mainly right outside the door to my coop. Not a lot so that's why I assume she had to have been carried off. I attached a photo she is the red one.

 

[Birdsong 82]

She still doesn't look too small. Even if there's a few inch opening I lost one of my girls found out a raccoon was able to reach his arm in an opening of just a few inches where he pulled back the wire and was able to pull my smaller but not too small girls out and all there was was feathers. The only reason I could tell is because they tried for another but only got halfway I'm sorry it's tough to lose one and not be 100% sure. It's true it's always the sweetest one I'm glad the rest of your girls are OK though

 

[50-45-1]

sorry about the loss of your Isa Brown Chicken. she was a pretty one.
not sure where you are located but the largest common hawk is a red tail which would weigh less than 4 lbs.
your hen would have been about 4 and 1/2 pounds if she was mature.
a hawk can not fly off with something that outweighs it. i think you are dealing with a fox or coyote.
you say when you woke up you found feathers. are the chicken let out early or in an open coop and run. or are they free range.
whatever it is will be back. i would suggest securing the chickens you have left more, and invest in a trail camera. its easier to avoid losses once you know what your predators are.
good luck!

 

[cluckmecoop7]

I'm so sorry....

 

[hayley3]

So sorry...I know it's devastating to find your chickens murdered.
And to worry if they suffered and to even feel a bit guilty.
Set up a trail camera if you can but fortify your coop to protect the remaining girls.
Agree that it was a canine, fox or coyote. They pick up the bird and the bird struggles for a bit (thus losing their feathers) before they are carried off.

 

[ammyg]

I lost one of my girls today. I woke up and noticed some feathers. I am not sure what could of got her as the feathers were in one spot. Nothing leading in or out, not any remaining parts. The other 3 are fine nothing seemed to happen to them. I am thinking a hawk but they have never attempted to get them before. Sad to say she was my favorite and a great egg layer and overall bird. Could just be I was not home like normal the past 2 days checking on them and that is what allowed it to happen. Feel bad how scared she was..

Update: found my girl seems she was carried to another spot. I thought there would be more feathers but there was not. I am still not sure what but they were hungry. The head was still attached but her insides were gone. It seems to be a clean kill per say. My yard is fenced in so not a dog. I do have a cat but he has never shown any interest in the chickens. For all I know could have been another cat in the yard.

 

[hayley3]

I have never had a stray cat bother a chicken either. Had to be big enough to carry the bird off. And foxes can climb anything.

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