Something just took my hen

[krthaymp]

Inside and heard the rooster and hens start up and ran out to find one of the hens scrabbling with something at the back of the yard by the fence line. By the time I got down there it was gone. Whatever took her must have cleared the fence with her and only left behind a handful of feathers. I thought it was a hawk but all I saw was the blur. I don’t know if it was a fox, seemed too small, but what else could have carried her off?
I tried to chase them down through the woods but it was too thick and I’m not very steady in my feet to begin with and kept falling and getting tangled.
I didn’t hear any noise from her so she was probably already dead by the time I reached the back.
Could a raccoon or opossum carry her off? A weasel? It’s still broad daylight!
I’m so mad, I was out there with them with the dogs not 10 minutes before.
Everyone is up now but I’m afraid whatever it was will be back and try to get into the coop tonight or another night.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Fox, maybe? Do you have foxes?

 

[Project Blue]

My first guess would be a dog. If you had your dogs out just a few minutes before I doubt a fox would be lingering about. It's probably an animal your dogs are very familiar with or....you have really city dogs that are unaware of their surroundings. Any working, hunting breed worth his salt would be acutely aware of a fox, raccoon or the like in the vicinity. Go look in you neighbor's yard.

 

[McChooky]

I agree.The dogs were likely more interested in going inside (sounds like a young dog)Foxes will watch them a while before they grab one and like to do it when you're gone or inside.If your coop is secure they'll be safe locked up.Whatever it was will be back.

 

[Callender Girl]

Another option could be a coyote. Coyotes are incredibly smart. As soon as you and the dogs were out of the way, a coyote would realize it had a great opportunity.

My experience is that they can slip through a barbed wire fence with ease and just as easily leap over woven 4-foot fencing or cattle panels.

Predators always come back to the site of an easy meal. Please keep your hens locked up and safe! I am sorry for the loss of your girl.

 

[krthaymp]

Crazy thing, she's back and mostly ok!

I had my dogs up on the back porch - I was shaving the big guy down (50lbs). He typically patrols the back fence with dedication to the point I have to go GET him sometimes, and he's chased off a few things. But they were locked on the porch for grooming without access to the yard. So I think that's why something made an attempt.

I went back out to check on everyone again and found her huddling under a board beside the hen house, frantic to get in. She's missing feathers but has no big wounds I can see, so I have no idea. She's certainly traumatized and was knocking her flock mates off the roost, trying to hide under them.

I think whatever tried to get her ultimatly dropped her when I and the dog came blasting off the back porch, and I guess she hid, but I swear I looked everywhere. She's buff and doesn't exactly blend in during the fall. Maybe got up in a tree? Maybe whatever had her couldn't keep hold of her and dropped her on the other side of the fence and she found her way back?

There's not really anywhere for them to hide in the yard except under the porch and a few sparse bushes at the fence line, all of which I checked. She had to of been over the fence.

I'm thinking fox still, maybe a young one. There were hardly no feathers - my experience is that a hawk always leaves a bunch of feathers. And the rooster didn't even run down there, which I feel like he would have for a hawk. He's chased one off before already last year, and this time he just stood in the middle of the yard screaming. I don't know - the important thing is, she's back and safe. No one's having yard time for at least a week though and we're looking at getting some cameras up at the back. Maybe one of the sonic fox/coyote deterrents for safe measure.

 

[Callender Girl]

Wonderful news!!!

 

[Project Blue]

The fox coyote sonic deterrents will also bother your dogs. One time I had a barred rock hen hide in a brick flower box. She stayed in the box for hours. I never would of guessed a chicken would essentially dive in a dark hole and hide for an extended period, but she did. Your hen may not of been bodily grabbed to start with. If something was chasing her they may have gotten a mouthful of tail feathers and nothing else. Kind of like a lizard losing his tail. Dogs and predators will bite down hard, so if she indeed get grabbed, she may need medical attention. I had a duck grabbed by a dog that got away. He had a broken leg, lacerations, and torn tendons where he was bitten. You should part her feathers and give her a good look over.

 

[krthaymp]

The fox coyote sonic deterrents will also bother your dogs. One time I had a barred rock hen hide in a brick flower box. She stayed in the box for hours. I never would of guessed a chicken would essentially dive in a dark hole and hide for an extended period, but she did. Your hen may not of been bodily grabbed to start with. If something was chasing her they may have gotten a mouthful of tail feathers and nothing else. Kind of like a lizard losing his tail. Dogs and predators will bite down hard, so if she indeed get grabbed, she may need medical attention. I had a duck grabbed by a dog that got away. He had a broken leg, lacerations, and torn tendons where he was bitten. You should part her feathers and give her a good look over.

I tried to last night, but it was already dark. I'll check her again today, if I can get my hands back on her. The rooster was NOT happy with me touching her last night! I watched her eat, drink, scratch around and was acting normal this morning, but I didn't have a chance to catch her.
Craziest thing! I thought for sure she was gone. I really want some cameras up back there to see what's going on.
Thank you all for your tips and support!