HELP! Either we have a freak of nature or an attack!

[CinnamonQueen]

I had just returned home. I went to put the chickens up. It was a little later than usual. I found our Leghorn, Snowball, on top of the coop and WAY TOO MANY RIR FEATHERS! They were every where. 2 chickens were missing! I was so scared, but we searched and found one uninjured but scared chicken behind the shed. We soon found another with many bald spots. Our chickens hide behind the shed when the neighbor's dog gets in. The de-feathered chicken was not bloody. Some remaining feathers looked very ruffled. I may get some pics, but it's dark now. I'll try to get some in the morning.
Possibilities:
Molting- She's been laying for about 4 months.
Pecking order conflict- I put her in the coop and she got along with the other 2 just fine.
Dog attack- My family says the gate to the neighbors yard was closed the entire time. There was no clucking of fear. I haven't asked neighbors yet.
So, I know its not much to go on, but any possibilities are appreciated!
~More info tomorrow~

 

[bobelot]

Hawks and or weasels can harm chickens quite badly

 

[CinnamonQueen]

But she Wasn't bloody, just de-feathered! Do hawks hunt in the evening? that was when the attack happened
(EDIT: see post 6)

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Just because the gate was closed when you looked, doesn't mean it wasn't open earlier. Maybe nobody heard anything, but then...commercials sure are loud aren't they. I take a guess and say they were run around by a feather pulling dog. You're lucky they aren't dead.

 

[CinnamonQueen]

I mean that my family was outside when I was gone, and they claim the gate was closed. I believe that maybe if the gate ever opened, my family missed it.
Our neighbor's dog is pretty chicken obsessed,so she probably would have eaten them if she could. However, maybe their other, less vicious dog got in. I will ask them if they know anything tomorrow.

 

[CinnamonQueen]

Oh no! I guess my family must have missed it! This morning, the latch to the gate was open and I found a small wound on poor Cinnamon! I'm not going to be letting them free range when neighbors dog is out any time soon.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

They make spring latches that automatically pull the gate shut and latch it whenever you go through...makes things simpler.

 

[CinnamonQueen]

It's getting down to 24 degrees tonight and Cinnamon lost a lot of feathers. Should I do anything about it?

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

If she had a coop out of the wind it will seem like heaven to finally have some a/c weather, a few feathers lost should not matter. Just so she is not hunched up and all continue to eat and drink.