Kill site - always feathers?

[MildlyOffensiveChicken]

My lovely Icelandic Pumpkin disappeared a week ago. I live in essentially a wilderness area. I visually searched about 3 acres. And used a low end thermal monocular I take hiking to check under trees and other nesting sites.

Yet to find her or any feathers to indicated she was killed. Holding out hope she is sitting on some eggs somewhere. She has been a secret layer for the year she has been laying.


Any type of predator that leave no feathers/carcass/signs?

 

[sourland]

It's possible that a 'snatch and grab' predator (fox, bobcat, coyote) might leave little feathers. A raptor or dog generally leaves lots of feathers. Hopefully she has a hidden nest, but she should be showing up periodically to eat. Good luck.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

When coyotes or bobcats take birds here, there's hardly any feathers to try and track with unless the bird somehow managed to free itself briefly

 

[MildlyOffensiveChicken]

Probably not a coyote, but I do have at least 2 different big cats about. I’ve also seen tracks of a canada lynx or bobcat.