Tragedy...

[BeerNChicken]

I came home from work to find one of my four chickens missing, one headless in the pen, another cowering in the food barn under the feed tray and the last one headless and 1/4 eaten in the yard. My pen is roughly 10x10 with a 3-3.5 foot high metal fence around it. I live in the Chicago suburbs in a wooded area. Could it be a hawk? I've seen them in the area and I have also had raccoons and skunks as regulars trying to steal my chics food. I'm awfully saddened, yet determined to trap this dirty chicken slaying devil to honor the dead and protect my lone remaining chicken.

 

[The Phantom]

I’m sorry to hear that!
It sounds like a coon. That’s what one did to my pheasant.

 

[BeerNChicken]

I've caught several coons hangin around under my deck near the pen to steal food at night but never any attacks. Its been cold here but not terrible. I'd think there'd be lower hanging fruit for coons.

 

[BeerNChicken]

RIP Bridget, Furious and Mrs Dabs!!

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Could it be a fox? They are known for this sort of thing and they can scramble over a 6 foot fence. I wouldn’t know seeing as I’m in AU and your USA. Whatever it is I hope you prevent it coming back!

 

[BeerNChicken]

I've have yotes in the area a year ago but they've been non existent since a road work project. It could be but they typically would eat them and not leave em laying around

 

[PattyNH]

So terribly sorry for your loss It could have been many predators - racoon, fox, coyote... No matter what it was, I'm sorry you lost your girls. Hoping the missing one is hiding somewhere and shows back up..

 

[BeerNChicken]

I doubt it. This was a cold and calculated vicious attack by a heartless blood thirsty tyrant. Bridget and Furious probably flew the coop as Mrs Dabs had her head torn clean off only to be tracked and hunted down and torn apart in a feather flying tornado of violence and pain. They will be avenged! Justice shall be served!

 

[BeerNChicken]

I hadn't even had a chance to feed them their hand made suet.

 

[HennyPenny2019]

I came home from work to find one of my four chickens missing, one headless in the pen, another cowering in the food barn under the feed tray and the last one headless and 1/4 eaten in the yard. My pen is roughly 10x10 with a 3-3.5 foot high metal fence around it. I live in the Chicago suburbs in a wooded area. Could it be a hawk? I've seen them in the area and I have also had raccoons and skunks as regulars trying to steal my chics food. I'm awfully saddened, yet determined to trap this dirty chicken slaying devil to honor the dead and protect my lone remaining chicken.