One of my girls is gone!

[Rommy]

Hi folks, one of my girls (my biggest girl; Miss Tip) was attacked last night just after dusk. When I went out just after dark to lock the girls up (b/c they always go back into their coop) she was missing. I called and called and she did not come; I knew something was wrong... I searched the yard and then got hubbies good flashlight and went behind the fence and as I got down toward the corner I could see a pile of stuff (was hoping it was leaves) so I went around and went back inside the fence and down toward that area. It was her feathers; I found her with her neck chewed up under the honeysuckle vines growing on the fence. The girls always loved to hang out there. Could not do anything at that time; hubby and I figured it was a stray cat (my cat never bothers the girls.) This morning I went down to get a better look and something had drug her out of the vine area and had been eating on her. When I said something a big bird flew out of the thick bushes on the side and into the woods and I saw it land in a tree; it really swayed the branch so I know it was a big size bird. Someone has suggested a possible owl got her. When I said something it flew off again into the woods. Later I had a cat coming up through the yard from that area; but I had already removed her from that area. Any ideas? I also have a question...hubby seems to think I need to do something to get rid of the odor of her kill before I let our border collie back out there. I sure wish I could trust her to be out there with the girls; I know nothing would bother them then. My other three are not even venturing out of the coop into their run this morning ... they must have been pretty spooked when it happened... I'm sad over losing my Tippy girl...she was a big girl and gave us some huge eggs ..had to vent some as well.

 

[nuthatched]

I'm so sorry you lost you chicken.
did the bird make any noise when it flew? Owls have Knapp on their feathers so they're silent, but other birds dont.
Lots of predators chew up necks, if she was a big hen, I'm not sure a cat would bother her but not outside possibility. was there a hole in her neck? feathers stripped off or torn up?

 

[Rommy]

I'm so sorry you lost you chicken.
did the bird make any noise when it flew? Owls have Knapp on their feathers so they're silent, but other birds dont.
Lots of predators chew up necks, if she was a big hen, I'm not sure a cat would bother her but not outside possibility. was there a hole in her neck? feathers stripped off or torn up?

Thank you. Last night all that I could see was her neck was chewed up; this morning her entire head was pretty much gone and whatever as eating her was eating into the body cavity. One of the things that I saw first last night was a pile of feathers that I thought was a pile of leaves; or hoped that's what it was. There were feathers and some meat with feathers scattered this morning. Not sure what you mean by noise; I heard the bird when it flew out of the bushes and into the woods and I heard it when it flew away into the woods but may have heard the sound of the trees moving moreso than the bird b/c seeing how the branches swayed when it landed near the edge of the woods showed it was good size...

 

[nuthatched]

Thank you. Last night all that I could see was her neck was chewed up; this morning her entire head was pretty much gone and whatever as eating her was eating into the body cavity. One of the things that I saw first last night was a pile of feathers that I thought was a pile of leaves; or hoped that's what it was. There were feathers and some meat with feathers scattered this morning. Not sure what you mean by noise; I heard the bird when it flew out of the bushes and into the woods and I heard it when it flew away into the woods but may have heard the sound of the trees moving moreso than the bird b/c seeing how the branches swayed when it landed near the edge of the woods showed it was good size...

I'm sorry, I mean could you hear the wings flapping, it sounds like an owl killed her and something else came by and found a meal. could have been the owl again though if it was working it's way down

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry! You might have two different critters involved, because she was out there all night. Too late to know for sure.
Keep your survivors locked in their safe coop and run for two weeks at least, if it was a hawk or owl, so that bird may move on elsewhere. Few domestic cats will take on a standard sized hen, so I do think that's less likely. Raccoons, foxes, coyotes, for sure are risks here.
My first guess would be a raptor, but that's not a sure thing.
Mary

 

[Rommy]

I'm sorry, I mean could you hear the wings flapping, it sounds like an owl killed her and something else came by and found a meal. could have been the owl again though if it was working it's way down

That's exactly what it appeared to be doing was eating from the head down. An owl makes sense b/c I believe it had to have happened just at or just after dusk b/c it was just after dusk I went out to lock them up..I never heard a thing. Would the owl have still been feeding at about 7:15 a.m.? I know they are nocturnal hunters. Is it normal for the other girls to be skittish about coming out of their coop now... They are usually out in the run and they only come out if I go down there

 

[nuthatched]

That's exactly what it appeared to be doing was eating from the head down. An owl makes sense b/c I believe it had to have happened just at or just after dusk b/c it was just after dusk I went out to lock them up..I never heard a thing. Would the owl have still been feeding at about 7:15 a.m.? I know they are nocturnal hunters. Is it normal for the other girls to be skittish about coming out of their coop now... They are usually out in the run and they only come out if I go down there

Owls are surprisingly active in daytime, I've heard them mid morning and late afternoon. especially if it's overcast.

 

[Henry&Friends]

That's exactly what it appeared to be doing was eating from the head down. An owl makes sense b/c I believe it had to have happened just at or just after dusk b/c it was just after dusk I went out to lock them up..I never heard a thing. Would the owl have still been feeding at about 7:15 a.m.? I know they are nocturnal hunters. Is it normal for the other girls to be skittish about coming out of their coop now... They are usually out in the run and they only come out if I go down there

As far as I know, predators will stay and eat their kill until they’re full or something else chases them off... sorry for your loss

 

[Rommy]

Thanks for the input folks! Very much appreciated. No more free ranging in the back yard unsupervised

 

[cmom]

My suggestion would be, if you gave a game camera, put it up then you will know what you are dealing wirh. Most likely the predator or predators have been lurking and looking for an opportunity. They know there are chickens there. They will be back sooner or later then you will know what has been lurking. Not long ago I had an owl go through some crappy netting and kill a couple of birds. I replaced the crappy netting with another piece of crappy netting and the owl went through it. I had moved the birds to another coop and put a camera in the pen. I have since replaced the crappy netting with some good netting. Good luck... I have posted these pictures before.