Raccoon or hawk attack.

[farmshinder]

I have four chickens that live happily in a kennels fence with a secure roof. There is a four inch gap where the roof connects to the perimeter of the fence. This morning I came out to one dead chicken with its head eaten, most of its breast devoured, and the entrails consumed. The other three birds were unscathed. A hawk might be able to get in but realistically the carnage seemed like a coon or possum. Any thoughts? I'm fencing the gap today. I figured 6 months of no predator action that it would be safe to have a small opening. wouldn't raccoons destroy the whole flock? This happened between 9pm and 6am.
Thanks,
Matt

 

[Sylvestor12]

It sounds like a coon. If the hen fought and the racoon couldn't drag her out it would have just eaten her there. Coons go in famillies or solitary so if it was just one then it probably would only eat one. The coon most likely will come back though. Racoons are strong enough to bend steel and they're smart enough to figure where to bend it so I'd check the whole area for any signs of wear and tear and put powdered pepper along the edge of your pen or some small animal repellent along the perimeter. Hope the others will be fine!

 

[pixtaker]

since you said the entrails and head were eaten that would be opossum or skunk ... i found a link that is pretty helpful

http://www.freewebs.com/professorchickenspredators/

 

[Sylvestor12]

the way he described it sounded exactly like my chickens that were attacked and we found the racoons and got rid of them. we even saw them eating one of their fresh kills so i'm pretty sure it was a coon.

 

[pixtaker]

my friend lost her entire flock of 9 hens and rooster to a coon...he only ever got the head....sooooo creepy to go out in the morning and have headless pets... no matter what killed them it sucks