Help please unknown killer

[Mozbornj]

Can anyone tell us what is doing this to the chickens?
Seen a hawk get a chicken before but nothing like this. This is the third one on a month to die this way. It’s wing feathers are cut almost surgically 3-4” from the tips.
Before and after pics.

 

[nuthatched]

I'm sorry for your losses.
What time of day is this happening? Where? Outside? In the run? In the coop? It could be a raptor with their sharp talons.

 

[Mozbornj]

I'm sorry for your losses.
What time of day is this happening? Where? Outside? In the run? In the coop? It could be a raptor with their sharp talons.

It’s right outside the coop. It’s only been happening the last 1 moth or so.
Dead of day is when it’s happening. We do t have a covered run for these particular hens. My gf went down there at 5 today and found this one terribly injured. No visible puncture wounds with its wing cut off like that.
Only one side wing is like that each time.

 

[Geena]

Can anyone tell us what is doing this to the chickens?
Seen a hawk get a chicken before but nothing like this. This is the third one on a month to die this way. It’s wing feathers are cut almost surgically 3-4” from the tips.
Before and after pics.

I've never seen a predator do something like that. Looks like someone's attempt at clipping wings. Are they perhaps getting in your neighbor's yard?

 

[nuthatched]

I agree with geena, it could be a botched attempt at wing clipping, and the stress might be killing them. I think you need cameras to solve this

 

[Geena]

I agree with geena, it could be a botched attempt at wing clipping, and the stress might be killing them. I think you need cameras to solve this

I was thinking maybe the wing clipping just wasn't noticed until the chicken died and was looked over.

 

[OzarkChooks]

I've lost quite a few chickens to hawks and I have never seen anything like this. I agree that you should set up a trail cam or something.

 

[Mozbornj]

No. They are in our 15 acre pasture in a barn with free range. No one is coming up we have cams and she is here all the time. When it happens it doesn’t kill them. They just sit in the spot they were attacked and don’t move until they die because the pile of feathers is right there.

 

[Mozbornj]

I've lost quite a few chickens to hawks and I have never seen anything like this. I agree that you should set up a trail cam or something.

Me either. She has seen them get attacked by hawks and the ones she saw didn’t look like that.

 

[Mozbornj]

I was thinking maybe the wing clipping just wasn't noticed until the chicken died and was looked over.

I wonder if pot belly pigs could do that to one? We do have 2 that also free range and hang out with the chickens.