Nothing but wings and legs

[The brenners]

I came home to find nothing but the legs and wings of my Easter Eggers . Due to the heat I left my girls out in the run even though the top wasn't complete ...I know ...killin me ...but I'm wondering if it's a hawk or a coon

 

[jpalmatier83]

So sad...

If it was during the day, most likely not a coon. This may be further substantiated by the open top. That suggests a bird of some sort. So, barring any digging around the base of the fence, probably a hawk/eagle/etc depending on your area.

 

[The brenners]

Very sad ...I just had nursed her back from being sick...I was wondering if a hawk would it not fly away with it?

 

[bobbi-j]

A hawk would have a hard time carrying off a full grown standard sized hen. If it was more than one bird, likely not a hawk. Raccoons will come out in the day - I lost one in the middle of the day a few years ago to coon that got into my coop. It was a mama with 4 babies to feed. During the spring and summer with young ones, I think the primarily nocturnal animals are more likely to come out during the day to find food. Don't beat yourself up. It's happened to all of us at some point or another, and if it hasn't yet, it most likely will. Chicken keeping has a steep learning curve - often at the expense of our birds. Now you know that you need a top of some sort on your run. Mine has 2x4" welded wire for a top. It keeps out birds and mammals.

 

[The brenners]

Thank you for the kind words

It was just one bird and she was just 7 - 9 weeks

I'm disappointed in my rooster

 

[bobbi-j]

Is your run attached to the coop? How old is the rooster? They really aren't a guaranteed safe-guard. Mostly just an alarm system, and maybe he did sound the alarm. Could be he alerted, and the others got out of the way, and he guarded those. Roosters can't take on a raccoon, and often not a hawk

 

[The brenners]

I actually have two coops with a run between them. 1/4 hardwar cloth halfway up the run with 1/2 hardware cloth the rest of the way. Hardware cloth apron on the outside with all windows using the 1/4 hardware cloth.

I was going to use chicken wire to cover the top

Also my rooster Crazy Charlie is only 8 months