Piles of feathers!

[FlutterbyChicks]

I went out to lock my chickens into the coop last night and there were four HUGE piles of feathers laying around the chicken yard. I checked, and all 7 of my chickens were alive. 3 piles came from my RSL and 1 I think was from my Black Australorp. The Sex Link is missing quite a bit of her feathers near her tail on one side with a small cut. They are in a 30 x 32 area fenced in, though there is a slight chance of predators sneaking underneath. I checked all around (very muddy today), and there were definitely no signs of digging under. So I'm guessing it was a hawk or even an owl (?), as there is no cover over top.

Am I correct in assuming it was a hawk or owl? They were all very scared today and didn't want to even leave the coop. I have a completely enclosed run for them for when I'm not at home that is covered and everything. I have them in there today. I'm glad we didn't lose any chickens, but now that a predator has discovered them, is it likely that whatever it is will be back? Ugh, I figured this would happen eventually.

I have several chairs around their area for them to hide under, but I'm guessing they didn't make it in time. Any ideas?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It could be a hawk. Lots of things can jump and/or climb a fence. Dogs, fox, coyote, raccoon, et. al..

 

[FlutterbyChicks]

Well, just came in from tending to the wounded hen's cut. I see her eye go up to the sky. I looked up and saw not one, but TWO hawks circling high above. Based on the markings, I'm guessing red-tailed. So now they're locked up in their covered run for awhile.