Fox attack :(

My three hens were out enjoying the sunny day today...and a fox got all three of them .

I looked out back to see a fox trotting around the yard. I scared him off, and saw one of my girls, feathers all around, quite dead on the ground. Upon further investigation--I found the other two. Headless, I think. It was awful; both were in corners of the yard so they obviously ran off and he attacked. I am hoping that they didn't struggle too much, poor girls.

Here's what was weird--he killed them, but didn't take them. There was no blood. He came back, for his dinner, I suppose, but is this how foxes operate? They kill everything in sight and then come back later to gobble them up??

I am so sad; the girls were almost two years old and have done so well. I'm not sure if we should replace them as I don't want to keep hens cooped up all day, but free ranging is obviously dangerous where I live.

What a sad day .