missing chicken

[1alex99]

I have a backyard flock of 8 hens. 4 adults and 4 pullets. In the last few days I had noticed two of the hens had developed diarrhea, so I decided to separate them to prevent the others from getting it. The hens were in a large Dog lot with 10 foot high chain link fences and a dog house. Yesterday around 10 pm I went outside to check on them and one had disappeared completely. I checked everywhere in the yard and woods around my house but there was no sign of her. There was also no feathers or blood. I woke up at first light this morning expecting to see her pacing along the fence to my chicken run, but she has not shown up all day. Are there any predators in the south eastern USA that would take a chicken like that?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

The first predator that comes to mind is an aerial predator as they can grab and dash with nary a sign, though certain ground predators *could* have managed the climb, kill and carry back over maneuver.

 

[birds4kids]

Feathers could have blown away. Bird of prey would need something of a runway, is the kennel large enough for that?