Missing hen-who done it...

[heiditam]

Today, the hens went missing. Shortly before this happened, I saw a feral cat that I chased away. All day, they were hiding somewhere. Could not find them and could not entice with my treat noise. Hours later, a very shaken bird is in the driveway ALONE. She was shaken, and it is not like her to be alone. Later, I go out and do the treat shake, and 7 come out. (I have 8). Then a few hours later, those 7 go to roost and one is missing. I am sure she is not sitting on a clutch as she is not laying yet, and her comb was nice and pale today, so not about to lay either. I have searched everywhere, and I see no feathers and no carcass. It is hard to see in the thick brush, but I don't see anything. When I was looking, I did see a freshly dug hole in the ground where they like to range. Neighbor says he sees ground hogs in that area. She is about 25-28ish weeks old.

Would a cat drag away the body? Do you think it was that feral cat?

Could it be a ground hog? Is it possible I saw a fox hole? Could it be that?

We have hawks galore, and we had a scare a week ago, but I think she is too heavy for a hawk to carry away and there is no evidence with no carcass.

What did this? Help?

 

[Free Feather]

A cat will carry a bird away. What did the hole look like, specifically?

 

[gawildlife]

Cat, possible depends on sizes.
Groundhog, no they are vegetarians.
Fox, very possible.
Hawk, don't discount it.

Cats are generally messy killers also if the bird was to large for a hawk then it was to large for a cat.
The hole size will tell you whistle pig or fox, +/- 6" whistle pig >8" fox or coyote.

For that matter my money is on coyote

 

[heiditam]

A cat will carry a bird away. What did the hole look like, specifically?

Like this-

Outside that is chewed up black walnut.

Cat, possible depends on sizes.
Groundhog, no they are vegetarians.
Fox, very possible.
Hawk, don't discount it.

Cats are generally messy killers also if the bird was to large for a hawk then it was to large for a cat.
The hole size will tell you whistle pig or fox, +/- 6" whistle pig >8" fox or coyote.

For that matter my money is on coyote

We do have a rare coyote here(2 to be exact). Have not seem them in a while though but it's possible. I usually hear the chorus of neighborhood dogs(fenced) going bonkers when they come around, and i didn't hear that today though. Looked everywhere again and no evidence. But we have 11 acres and thick brush in woods so she could be somewhere in there

Thank u all for your help