What predator killed one of my girls? :'( unpleasant pic in post

[Chookachook]

Hi, I'm just trying to find some answers as I'm worried about our other 2 girls.

Sorry for anyone who has experienced loss(es) to predators, it's truly heartbreaking.

We thought our flock was pretty safe, walled garden in an urban area surrounded by trees and neighbours with dogs, so they have been free roaming around the back garden these last 3+ years with no issues.

The other day I went looking for our girl Tremaine as she wasn't coming for treats. Found her in the trees, I thought at first injured with her head tucked in and wattle showing hence the pic. Only when I got up close I saw it was her head and neck gone, legs stretched out and wing next to her with no other obvious signs of an attack. No blood.

The trees in our garden are in a raised bed, the girls love to dustbathe underneath the overhang and that's where I found a load of the smaller feathers. They go digging around the top part and sometimes lay there. I just can't get my head around what got her, neighbours reckons a fox but it seems too clean a kill, we think bird of prey but there's no real swooping space in and around the trees. Any ideas? We're in Dublin, Ireland btw.

Thanks
Angela

 

[Silkies for life]

It looks like a hawk to me... Sorry for your loss!

 

[centrarchid]

Picture of carcass up close would be nice.

 

[peeper89]

 

[Chookachook]

Thanks for your replies and condolences. We'll have to look at getting a run if birds of prey are in the area.

I never got to inspect her before laying to rest, once I saw that she was a gonner I covered her up and waited for my husband to get back from work but it was dark by that point and then we buried her. I wasn't thinking at the time of taking more pics after the shock of seeing her dead (and had to get back to my toddler) but the head/neck looked surgically removed.

 

[dmanhefner]

That looks a lot like an owls work.

 

[centrarchid]

That looks a lot like an owls work.

Shh-sh, need to make a firmer case.

 

[Animals45]

Looks either like a hawk or possum got her.

 

[MillefleurGirl137]

I had that happen once to one of my chickens. I think it's a possum

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I’m so sorry for your loss! Bear hugs!