vultures?

[Queen Alice]

Found a bunch of feathers in the chicken field, rushed to the coop to find one rather shaken-up chicken. She is missing feathers, and seems to have been pecked on her back - back and tail feathers are the ones that were pulled out. No blood - no open wounds. SO... our first thought was a hawk, but I'd suspect they'd be more successful. We have a nesting group of vultures that sometimes roost on the fence, or in the chicken field. Has anyone heard of a vulture attacking a live chicken?

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Vultures don't have the strength in their feet to attack a chicken like a hawk or eagle does. That is why they eat dead things.

 

[mom'sfolly]

red-tailed hawks only have about a 30% sucess rate for hunting, so it was probably a hawk.

Good luck keeping your chickies safe.

 

[Birch Run Farm]

My chickens do not run and hide from vultures but they do if they see a red tailed hawk.

 

[SpottedCrow]

Correct...vultures are more likely to eat something nice and decaying rather than attack something still moving...