Just A Big Pile of Feathers! :-(

[Debutante]

I think it is more likely a ground predator than from the air....if a hawk, eagle, or owl they will attack with their talons first...aiming for the spine from above....if a ground predator, they will run and snatch or pounce...this affords the prey animal an opportunity to slip the grasp. It sounds like either a fox, cat, or a pouncing animal to me and the chicken slipped the grasp by loosing some feathers and running away. Ya can rest assured that it will continue to lurk, hoping for another opportunity.

Thanks! I tend to agree with you, that it's most likely a ground predator. There was an area of brush about 15 ft from the feather pile, which would have been an ideal place for it to spring out from. Cutting back the brush is on my "to-do" list for tonight after work.
Containing the girls in the coop for a couple of days might not be a bad thing... they're all just beginning to lay so reminding them where the nest boxes are might be useful. I have a feeling there are a few under-the-pines egg stashes. LOL

 

[Debutante]

I'm not so sure about the ground predator thing; I've had a similar experience where one of my birds was actually picked up by a hawk and quickly dropped. I can tell you, she lost a lot of feathers! Have u checked all of ur buff bird's backs for claw marks? I've also had experiences with ground predators and they usually will take chunks out of their prey before it escapes (ex: dogs). Birds can survive from both of these situations.

Like you, I've lost cats to hawks and owls and have seen how they grab them with their talons from above. Once I saw a snake get picked up and sailed away with by a RT Hawk (but I didn't mind)!
I checked over my birds this AM and gave each hen a full medical exam. None of them seem injured as far as visible clues -- puncture wounds, lacerations, etc. but certainly the symptoms of internal injury could appear over the next few days. I'll keep an eye out for any behavioural changes or loss of appetite, etc. Hoping for the best.

 

[ReseisCL16]

Keep us posted! Hope they're all ok!It's