Lost two hens last night

[Renegade]

Our chickens free range all day in a fully fenced 6 acre pasture and spend the night in a smaller fenced area with a coup away from our horses and goats.
This morning I went out to feed and two of my hens were dead.

One had all of the meat on the neck eaten off and the chest had been opened up. The hole in the chest was maybe 3" across. The other bird was a few feet away and only had the hole in the chest. Anyone have any ideas what may have done this?
It has been 2-3 years since we've had any problems with predators.

Donna

 

[bockbock2008]

I know it wasnt a coyote. They got 11 of mine in broad daylight and all they left was a pile of feathers and every now and then a wing.

 

[moduckman]

Coon.

 

[SussexInSeattle]

If the holes are clean and bloodless, think Rats. I lost a pullet last year and it had a hole in the breat that looked as clean as if a surgeon had cut it, no blood anywhere. People didn't belive me until I caught a rat in the act in broad daylight.

Do your chickens have roosts? You may want to search online or hardware stores for those rat traps where the bait is inside a black box and the rat can not move the poison away from the box.

 

[Barry]

Quote:
Sorry for your loss.
Since my last loss, I have focused on preventing any future losses over what type of predator caused the last one.
I have learned the hard way that it is critically important to lock them in at night.

 

[smith2]

Ditto, coon. They usually rip the heads off and eat into the chest.

 

[birdlover]

The only way you're going to avoid this type of thing is to lock them up. Sorry you lost your 2 girls.

 

[clayhill]

Very sorry for your loss, but birdlover is right, you need to shut them up in the coop every night where they are safe.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Coon and it will be back. lock your girls up any way you can. Coons can also reach in and kill then pull your girls through any chicken wire.
They are VERY determined little critters.

 

[jay1995]

racoon definetly. It sounds a little bit weird but that is exactly what happened to my rooster head was pulled off and chest ripped open and almost ate his entire chest. Im sorry for your loss its hard im lucky I only lost one. Again sorry for your loss.