What ate my hen?

[OzarkChooks]

I walked into the chicken pen and found her like this. There was no blood anywhere, just feathers. After I disposed of the the body I could see that she was hollowed out entirely.

The pen is NOT predator proof. It was built in a rush to keep out hawks. But there are plenty of spaces small varmint could get in. What do you think did this?

 

[SilverBirds]

Sorry about your hen! Is the head missing? It looks like either an opossum or raccoon.

 

[OzarkChooks]

I should have taken pictures from different angles. No, her head was completely intact and so was her crop. When I picked her up I realized that whatever got her had eaten everything inside

Will raccoons attack during the day? I always thought they were more nocturnal.

 

[SilverBirds]

Yes, they both will attack during the day. I'm leaning towards an opossum but it could be a raccoon as well. Whatever it was will be back for the rest of your birds so you need to reinforce your coop.

https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/coops/what-killed-my-chicken-homestead-supplier/

 

[SilverBirds]

Here are some other articles that can help you.

Article 'Top 10 Ways to Protect Your Chickens from Predators'

Article 'Top 10 Chicken Predators'
-Possums
-Raccoons

 

[McChooky]

Possums eat their insides out like this sorry!

 

[OzarkChooks]

Thank you, these articles are great. We left traps out last night but didn't catch anything. My husband is going to run hot wire around the pen. I hope we can fix this pen!

 

[McChooky]

Thank you, these articles are great. We left traps out last night but didn't catch anything. My husband is going to run hot wire around the pen. I hope we can fix this pen!

Put out a dish of cat food for the possums or coons.Edit: Hopefully they'll leave your chickens alone long enough for you to fix the pens.Good luck!

 

[DramaBrahmaMama]

I should have taken pictures from different angles. No, her head was completely intact and so was her crop. When I picked her up I realized that whatever got her had eaten everything inside

Will raccoons attack during the day? I always thought they were more nocturnal.

They are more likely to feed during the day in the spring, because they have babies.