Unknown Predator

[BittyBantamMom6]

I have a flock of 7 hens and use to be 4 roos. I had gone to visit future in-laws and asked my mom to watch them. She was home all day and night. She let them out at 6 this morning and when i came home at 1 there was a lot of feathers in the coop along with a small trail of feathers leading to the edge of my fencing. My mom

 

[BittyBantamMom6]

Never heard a sound. I found my 6 youngest hens in the wrong area, one of my 3 bantam roos with a deep cut above his tail, and the second roo gone.

 

[BittyBantamMom6]

The only damage done thankfully is the injured roo and one gone. No prints, no pieces, no blood. Any one have any ideas? It is small enough it fit through a 1'X1' chicken door, and only left feathers behind. We live in West TN if that helps with Predator suggestions

 

[BittyBantamMom6]

Update to this morning. The Predator came back and tried to dig into my coop

 

[Rock Home Isle]

Update to this morning. The Predator came back and tried to dig into my coop

Awesome!!!...what kind of tracks did it leave behind? Did you photograph them?

 

[Cedar and Stone]

I had a coyote grab a hen the other day, broad daylight, and there would have been only feathers left if I hadn't heard her scream and chased him off. I lost a different one with only a pile of feathers behind... guessing coyote as well, but can't ever know for sure. Sorry for the loss

 

[Yoako]

Coyote or raccoon? for you.

 

[carlf]

Broad daylight? I vote dog or coyote. Raccoons usually aren't so bazen in daylight.

 

[BittyBantamMom6]

The ground was too dry for any tracks. We set up live traps and left them at the dig site and between the baby and adult coops for 5 nights. We didn't catch anything and it seems to have given up for now. My guess would have to be a raccoon or fox since the coyots around me are too big to fit in the door. Any suggestions in case it comes back?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I have a flock of 7 hens and use to be 4 roos. I had gone to visit future in-laws and asked my mom to watch them. She was home all day and night. She let them out at 6 this morning and when i came home at 1 there was a lot of feathers in the coop along with a small trail of feathers leading to the edge of my fencing. My mom

Coyote or fox and fox or coyote in that order. And bringing up the rear is the ever present Bobcat.