Most likely predator for this guinea kill?

[MMelton67]

We have some 19 week old guinea's we just let loose from the coop they've been in for 3 months. There are only 4 of them, 3 now. Last night was the 3rd night they've been out and for some reason they seem to be nesting on the ground instead of returning to the coop or finding an aerial spot, of which there are many options from 2' off the ground at the lowest to small saplings up to mature trees. I did attempt to herd them back into their coop last night but that was tilting at windmills.

Anyway, discovered the single female had been taken last night. It was most probably taken where they had been sleeping the last few night and carried over 100' away and eaten. The head was gone, the entire left side including breast and the legs was eaten down to the bone, the vent area completely eaten and the thoracic cavity opened up and part of the liver was eaten.

Fox? or?

 

[DemeterAD9]

Where do you live? Night time predation makes me think coon or possum. I would guess a fox or other canine would carry it far away and eat the whole thing bones and all.

Could also be an owl, they will pluck the bird and pick the meat off the bigger bones but I wouldn’t expect them to carry off a larger prey item before eating it.