lots of feathers but no remains?

[lsteltzer]

We live in very urban suburbs, within walking distance of Philadelphia, and lost 3 of our 4 chickens last night. There is known to be a fox in the hood, so I assumed it was responsible when we woke up this morning to feathers strewn across the yard. But people tell me foxes kill more neatly, that raccoons (which I'm sure are around) are messy. This was definitely messy. Our chickens free range but are usually locked in the coop at night--but the homemade automatic door closer failed.

But here's the thing: I can't imagine a fox or raccoon eating 3 entire chickens, bones and all. There were feathers galore, running off in various directions (poor Fluffy, poor Ray Ray, poor Scramble), one spot of blood, but nothing else. No carcasses, no head, no entrails, no bones... anyone have any insight?

lauren

 

[gckiddhouse]

We lost 5 chickens recently. We are on an acre in a pretty heavily populated area. In our case it was coyotes. A pack of 5 more than likely. If there is one fox, there are more. I don't know if they run in packs, but that is probably the case. A pack (or family) of something. Could have been raccoons. Whatever it was, there were 3 of them.

ETA - I am so sorry for your loss. I know very well how that feels.

 

[DIMBY]

Something similar happened to one of mine a little more than a month ago, except there were virtually NO feathers, just one leg, a gizzard and a bit of intestine. After talking with some local bird watchers, we think it was either a hawk or a large horned or grey owl - the owl got most of the votes, especially since what remains there were were under a large pine tree. Also, our three dogs didn't even seem to know what had happened, no barking, and it was in daylight. Owls with babies to feed will hunt during the day if they have to, and this was about the time when eggs were starting to hatch. So, owl sweeps down, snatches chicken, manages to fly up to pine tree branch, kills and dismembers a bit, then flies off with body. Sorry for the graphic description, but...besides owls, any hawks in your area?

 

[Lollipop]

Yes, I was thinking coyote also. Had to be more than one and strong enough to carry off a full grown chicken. Dogs would have just killed them and left them, most likely, as dogs do it for sport. Coons will eat some of it, starting with the head. Then kill everything they can catch.. Live and learn. Sorry your door failed........Pop

 

[5acrefarmer]

I kept losing chickens like that and one morning around five o clock my wife heard something and ran outside to the chicken house and a coon had a chicken in its mouth. If there's a way a coon can get in, they will. We found the remains out by the barn where it's den was. Sorry to hear about your lose, but the most problem we've had has been with coons.

 

[beckymom3]

Coon.

Messy, unpredictable and quite happy to enter the coop if you left it open, do a lot of damage, carry off what they want to chew on later, rip apart what they get their paws on just for fun. They are the worst predator ever: able to climb, use their paws like hands, unafraid of almost everything and LOVE CHICKENS!

Sorry....

 

[CityChook]

Sorry lauren. It's quite amazing what beasties I have in my urban backyard, too. And city coons are absolutely fearless. Yuck.
Been thinking about a game cam, but am almost afraid to know what goes on after dark...

 

[TNRIRRoo]

Coyotes do run in packs but I thought foxes were territorial? Coons would be my guess if a bunch went missing.