Losing my chickens

[McChooky]

Thinking its a hawk or coon. The neck is easy to eat, so a few predators may go for it. Definitely set up a cam, it will be back.

Yes it could be either one but raccoons usually leave a mess to clean up.

 

[McChooky]

I would rule out raccoons. They will tear into the body, consuming the chicken, while it is still alive. I've experienced raccoons. I have a predator proof coop. Yet, raccoons are good with their hands and can turn locks. I now put a padlock on the locking mechanism. However, prior to that, one night a raccoon was able to open it. They left dead birds, not that far from the coop. And, they did a pretty good job of eating a full side. I've never heard of raccoons that only eat the head.

They'll reach thru chicken wire if they can't get in and grab a chicken by the head and try to pull it out which dismembers it or pulls its head off and eat it.The body remains in the cage because its too big to pull thru the wire unless its dismembered.