? What got my chick?

[two j farm]

Ok so I had 13 2 month old chicks. To day when I got home some of them was out off the pen. I found how they got out but I also found one died chick in the pen. All that was left was the wings everything else was gone. What would take/eat one chick but leave 12 more chicks and 16 chickens?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Did your pen have a hawk or maybe a pterodactyl proof top. I must ask because it sounds like a hawk killed then ate your chicken. And if it did it'll be back as soon as its tummy starts growling from hunger.

 

[two j farm]

No hawk I have covered coop and run.

 

[Abriana]

Did the adults cannibalize? I had something like this happen. I thought it was a hawk but now I’m leaning towards cannibalism because the adults were running around with intestines and I know my rooster would never let any hawk come, grab a chick, and then start to eat it in the pen, then chase it off. Sounds like possible cannibalism to me

 

[two j farm]

I was thinking that too. I had 3 young rosters in the pen at the time. I took them out that night and everything is ok. I haven't lost anymore chicks. Thanks everyone!

 

[junebuggena]

With just the wings left, I'm thinking it was a racoon. They will reach in and grab. And they are known for pulling birds to pieces. At 8 weeks of age, they are a bit too big and fast for an older bird to cannibalize.