What kind of Predator is this?

[MHG]

A while ago one of my chickens got out of the coop...When I found her she was missing all of the feathers from her back. The skin was not broken...just all of the feathers gone. I didn't think too much about it since she recently went through a molting period. Then this weekend I found one of my neighbor’s chickens in my yard...when I approach her I noticed that her back was ripped open! Skin was missing, I could see her organs inside her body...she was still alive and able to move...but she was torn beyond repair.

What kind of animal rips open their back? I thought most raccoons went for the head, and possums ate the dead ones. I wish I would have thought to take some pictures that the site was really bad.

Thoughts?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

A hawk could do that trying to catch one

A dog could also do it with their claws

 

[ranchhand]

Sounds like a hawk or possibly an owl. But a dog could do that too, grabbing it to carry it off. Though I doubt it's a dog, because you found the chicken.

 

[CoopCrazy]

I agree something is trying to pick them up.. Probably a young raptor that cant carry them yet..

 

[OkieDave]

I say a dog. at first he's just playing and only gets a mouthful of feathers. then he learns to get a better grip.

 

[americana-chick]

I dont think it is a fox or hawk as i have had both foxes and hawks and they always go for the head around here.

 

[88Haywood88]

It sounds to me like a bird of prey. If it happened at night, it was an owl. A dog would not have left the wounded chicken behind, even if something tried to scare it off.