What just eats head / neck?

[pieville]

I just lost my best girl to a predator. What kills but just eats the head & neck area? I suspect a raccoon but no other clues. The hawk net seems secure but I found one small area that might have been dug under the fence.

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

I believe that's a possum or raccoon thing, sorry for your loss

 

[EclecticLadyy]

The easiest and fastest place to get the maximum fat from a chicken carcass is the neck. I have seen a raptor, a Red-Tailed hawk, attack a chicken and eat it just like that. A hawk will rapidly yank feathers out -- then consume the fatty neck REALLY fast - then leave the carcass behind if it's anywhere near human activity. Where are all the neck feathers? Were they scattered all around? (SORRY for that loss. It is very upsetting.)

 

[PolishAllTheWay]

I am guessing it’s probably a raccoon or hawk, not a fox though. I’ve had several fox attacks and every time the only thing that’s left is a small pile of blood with 20 feathers or so

 

[centrarchid]

A mammal did your bird this time. Feathers at base of neck look licked and wetted down by saliva. Feathers likely consumed which not typical of hawks. I would most likely have eaten bones as head and neck consumed.

 

[cmom]

My suggestion is if you have a camera put it up. Most likely whatever it is will be back and then you'll know. I love my cameras. Good luck...

 

[50-45-1]

Looks like hawk kill to me.
Sorry about your girl.

 

[Aapomp831]

A hawk. That’s how mine are always found after a hawk attack. The whole chicken is too heavy to carry back; so it eats the head and neck bc that’s the most nutritious part. They will be back for the rest of it....

 

[Callender Girl]

I am so sorry for your loss and that you had to find the mangled remains of your girl. I've done it, and it's horrible. Hope everybody else stays safe.

 

[pieville]

Thanks everyone for feedback. The feathers were all around her. I never thought about the saliva thing. I have doubled up hawk net, as I lost 4 birds in a week one spring to a juvenile hawk. That’s why I was dubious about it being a raptor. I’ve captured 4 raccoons in the past 6 months, so I’m thinking raccoon.
I purchased & returned 2 trail cameras in 2020. One ended up taking specialized expensive batteries & one just didn’t work.