GRAPHIC - any idea what killed my chicken?

[jmillersan]

Poor girl - she was older but had survived some type of attack about 3 weeks ago, not so lucky this time

(we only let our birds out when we are home, it was raining so I guess we couldn't hear the skawking, and I stepped out so it was just my wife around)

99.9% sure fox or coyote - we live in Raleigh, NC but coyotes are becoming pervasive - it happened between 2-5pm, I believe... but does anyone recognize the difference in how they eat - IF there is any ?

 

[jmillersan]

just to clarify, i'm not trying to be gross but we've gotten accustomed to looking out for foxes but the coyotes might give us a new issue, hence my question

 

[aart]

Is the head gone?
Really hard to say...and might not really matter,
time to keep them confined for safety because what ever it was, it'll be back.

Knowing this might help with ID.
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Have to agree with arrt on that hard to tell from your photo I am sorry but villian will be back did you build with hardware cloth or chicken wire

 

[RaineyTN]

In my experience with coyotes they just snatch the bird and I never see it again. Usually no remains or feathers to be found.

 

[free range possum]

Poor girl - she was older but had survived some type of attack about 3 weeks ago, not so lucky this time

(we only let our birds out when we are home, it was raining so I guess we couldn't hear the skawking, and I stepped out so it was just my wife around)

99.9% sure fox or coyote - we live in Raleigh, NC but coyotes are becoming pervasive - it happened between 2-5pm, I believe... but does anyone recognize the difference in how they eat - IF there is any ?

Id say a housecat since the guts are strewn. A skunk bites head and sucks blood from throat. Cats have a hard time dealing with trying to kill chickens due to teeth. A possum make a mess like that but usually will eat guts and throat but..possums and coins usually dedicate during stress/ excitement as does a possum. No poop so Id say a cat.

 

[free range possum]

Coons not coins. Coons will usually kill several and drag each off but a cat will try eating after a mauling brutal killing.

 

[sourland]

To me it looks very much like a raptor kill.

 

[RaineyTN]

To me it looks very much like a raptor kill.

Velociraptor?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Looks like a possum kill to me they normally attack a chicken by the breast, or the back of the bird, & eat what they want.
A cat ate my mother's OEGB hen this spring, & the only thing left was her wings, & a couple leg bones.