Don't rule out a raccoon just yet.
Your initial description screammed coon to me. THe fact that you saw a raptor eating it could just be that it was an easy meal --as the chicken was already dead. Raptors WILL eat animals previously killed by another predator. Being that you've had raptors swoop down- I would guess you probably have BOTH.
Live trapping for the coon is good--however an electric fence will work wonders (especially when baited to make sure the coon touches the wire!). As far as the raptor is concerneds, the shiny CD's hanging or shiny whirly wind kites can be a good detterent. Hopefully the hawk in your area is just migrating north....if so, locking up your girls for a few days to a week will quickly have it moving on to new "greener" pastures.
Good luck
Sandra
Your initial description screammed coon to me. THe fact that you saw a raptor eating it could just be that it was an easy meal --as the chicken was already dead. Raptors WILL eat animals previously killed by another predator. Being that you've had raptors swoop down- I would guess you probably have BOTH.
Live trapping for the coon is good--however an electric fence will work wonders (especially when baited to make sure the coon touches the wire!). As far as the raptor is concerneds, the shiny CD's hanging or shiny whirly wind kites can be a good detterent. Hopefully the hawk in your area is just migrating north....if so, locking up your girls for a few days to a week will quickly have it moving on to new "greener" pastures.
Good luck
Sandra
