I'm thinking coyote, what do you think?

[cupman]

I've lost three chickens to this unknown predator, all similar attack styles, 5-6pm when it's still light out. Well my most recent death had a lot more evidence. All three chickens have been hauled away with no corpse to be found, including my 10 pound rooster. I noticed in the most recent attack a HUGE pile of feathers, probably 30-40. I noticed 20 feet away there was another pile of about 20... and another pile and another pile. In all there were 4 or 5 piles of feathers about 20 feet apart from each another. I'm thinking maybe this a point when the coyote dropped it and picked it back up to maintain it's grip on the bird?

I read the sticky at the top of the page and they say dogs are normally responsible if you can't find any corpses, which has been the case, only feathers. I live on a dead end street with not many neighbors, so the chances of it being a domesticated dog are very, very slim. Before I had always been leaning towards raccoon, but now I'm not so sure.

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

I think Coyote also, 10 pounds probably made it drop him rip out some feathers to get a grip and go on. Domestic dogs sometimes play with their prey, and leave the torn up chicken, and if they are in a pack, sometimes they'll take them. If it is a coyote and s/he is desperate to get some food for him/herself or his/her pups, it means getting chicken.

Sorry about your losses.

 

[cupman]

Confirmed... Coyote. An attack at 6:15pm tonight. My birds flew into the air all at once like a big firework. They were freaking out like no other. I didn't even see what was going on but this behavior was blatant. I grabbed my rifle and ran out top speed, shortly met within 10 feet of a coyote, smiley like a dog, the safety was on(!!!) I chased it to the head of this valley that borders my property.. from there I woulda had a clean shot. I tripped and fell on my face, no more than 4 or 5 seconds.. but it was enough time to lose any shot on the coyote. I shot 2 shots in it's direction where I saw the brush moving... to scare it.. but 99% chance I missed.

I'm glad to know my foe.. but the fight is really on now. He didn't get a single chicken.. but he has killed three in the past. A formidable coyote. He looked really healthy and large for this time of year.. I would guess he weighed at least 30 pounds(he was big!).