Update (Pics of the Guilty Party) I lost my first hen today, need some advice on what it might be

[FireTigeris]

Cats are not usually chicken killers but can, they usually leave only feathers or bury the remains.

Foxes are active at dawn and/or dusk- they are crepuscular preferring the opposite schedule of the local coons.

Coons and cats can reach in using front paws better then foxes...

There is a nest of foxes behind my house (less the 150 feet) and stray cats in my area, the dog marking keeps the foxes well away- the cats, formerly owned one of them- are diurnal as they are getting handouts.

I have 1/4 inch hardware cloth and don't fear either.

 

[dbounds10]

Yea, I have 1/4 in hardware cloth also. The actual kill was my fault, left the gate open one night and with the time change the pop door opened a little before dawn and they came out. Fox was probably waiting for them. I dont think he can get in the run/coop when its locked up but I would rather he not be there in the event that the door gets left open again. I have had my girls for over a year and this was the first time I forgot to shut the gate when they went up to roost. I hope I dont ever forget again!

I have a buried HWC perimeter but I guess if he was determined enough he could dig in....I dont know. All I know is I dont want to wake up to a yard full of feathers ever again!

 

[dbounds10]

Oh...the time stamp on the pictures was 10:38PM and then again around 5:15AM. Neither time is dusk or dawn. Full dark here at both those times. This fox must not play by the rules!

 

[FireTigeris]

5:15 Am might be close enough to patrol his claim. At 11ish? I guess the coons keep weird hours or he can't read the fox books...

 

[Amy S]

I'm betting on the fox being the culprit, leaving the cat to scavenging. Either way, they both have now been where they shouldn't....meaning they'll be back.

 

[dbounds10]

If I trap the cat, it will go to the pound. But if I get the fox I am afraid he will have to be put down....