GRAPHIC - What killed my hen?

[Saaniya]

my god ..looks like raccoon attack I have read somewhere raccoon are the no1 chicken eaters
I hate them I don't have raccoon in my country we have wild cats

 

[Joeschooks]

My bet is a fox too. I'm in the UK but around here I'm told it's the only predator who will kill for fun (i.e. not just to eat it). I've done my best to predator proof my runs and fortunately I've never lost any chooks. When I do see a fox I chase them off and they always came back within a week or two. I now have electric fence everywhere and after hearing two foxes get zapped (they yelp and it wakes me up!) none have returned in the last 6 months that I know of.

 

[Bunnylady]

I'm not sure foxes kill for "fun." They cache food against leaner times, so it is instinctive to kill more than they can eat. IME, they don't just kill and leave; they carry their kills off one by one and (presumably) bury them elsewhere. Whatever their motivation, the loss can be devastating.

 

[oregonkat]

Fox has my bet too.

 

[Chickielady]

The blasted fox returned leaving carnage in its wake. My entire juvie flock gone, 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Marans, 2 Silkies and 8 Lavender Orpingtons.
I thought their coop was secure but obviously it wasn't.

Oh that is so sad !
But you know if they find food there once, they will return there again and again.
Are you sure it was a fox ?

 

[Chickielady]

My bet is a fox too. I'm in the UK but around here I'm told it's the only predator who will kill for fun (i.e. not just to eat it). I've done my best to predator proof my runs and fortunately I've never lost any chooks. When I do see a fox I chase them off and they always came back within a week or two. I now have electric fence everywhere and after hearing two foxes get zapped (they yelp and it wakes me up!) none have returned in the last 6 months that I know of.

Not too long ago we watched a special on BBC TV here, of the fox in Great Britain, and how he is living just fine in everyone's yards and gardens, burrows dug under cottages and even in the towns themselves.
A woman used a game camera to watch a Vixen burrowed under her garage, who had kits, and they were all but unseen, except at night.
These foxes have infiltrated everyday human homes and life like the common squirrel !
Amazing.

 

[Chickielady]

I'm not sure foxes kill for "fun." They cache food against leaner times, so it is instinctive to kill more than they can eat. IME, they don't just kill and leave; they carry their kills off one by one and (presumably) bury them elsewhere. Whatever their motivation, the loss can be devastating.

I agree with you, they do not kill for fun.
Cats, and Mink (weasels) DO kill for fun, and a band of juvenile Mink (or weasels) can and will kill 4-8 chickens, or more, if they can unencumbered.
I had a game cam up, caught photos of 2 young mink burrow under the fence, and in broad day light, kill 4 jersey giant pullets, and head for the next coop, went inside and killed 4 or 5 more...................they beheaded each, and drank all the blood, and moved on to the next victim.
They return that night, and we video'd them again.
Luckily, coops are closed and locked, hardware wire over windows.
We have "no dig" wire around the bottom of all coops and pens now.
We have had Bobcats too, 2 kills, and the cat sneeks in (right into our yard) and grabs a bird, and RUNS.
POOF ! GONE !
Nothing left but a few feathers and GONE.
They do not stick around to 'play' with any prey here.
But we did catch him on the game camera.
We have 2 game cams, love them.

 

[drumstick diva]

That is just heart breaking

 

[Mrs. Light Sussex]

That is just heart breaking

Pocket breaking too

 

[Tiana's chickens]

I feel like not everyone is taking the time to read the previous comments of Mrs. Light Sussex (the OP). I've been following the thread from the start and she's mentioned numerous times that she saw the fox and there are no raccoons where she lives. But people keep saying it was a raccoon which isn't much help for the poor OP who's now lost all her chickens.
Now that it has been a established it was a fox, she can make the right provisions for next time