What Predator...?

[BigBlueHen53]

Well, it finally happened. Oh, um, moderately graphic. It's been several years since we've lost a bird to any predator, but apparently one has discovered us. My question is, what predator is small enough to fit through 2x4" welded wire fencing, (EDIT: I was wrong, this side of the yard is actually 4x4 cattle fencing. The other 3 sides are 2x4. I didn't realize this in the dusky light last night, sorry!) is about a foot tall, and strikes at twilight? This predator was unable to get the bird back through the fence. Please note that my question is not about coulda, woulda, shouldas. It's about identifying the predator. Does this sound like a fox or a raccoon to y'all, so we can make decisions about fencing going forward.

DH had gone out to lock up the birds when he saw that they had not put themselves away as they normally would have at this time of evening. Instead they were all clustered in the run as far as they could get from the coop, looking and acting agitated. He called me and we did a little investigating. He found some feathers but no body. On further investigation I found her. This had just happened minutes earlier, apparently. I won't go into detail.

So, help me out, experts. What do you think? The fence is about 4' high. A coyote couldn't get through it. A raccoon would have climbed. The bird is almost full grown, about 15 weeks old, a EE pullet. I'm thinking fox.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

Often what happens is the chicken eater harasses the chickens and they run into a corner or against the run in a group, and then that chicken eater runs around and reaches through and grabs the chicken and tries to pull it through…

So it might not have actually gotten through the 2x4 wire... does that sound plausible in your case?

 

[Fishsticks06]

Well, it finally happened. Oh, um, moderately graphic. It's been several years since we've lost a bird to any predator, but apparently one has discovered us. My question is, what predator is small enough to fit through 2x4" welded wire fencing, is about a foot tall, and strikes at twilight? This predator was unable to get the bird back through the fence. Please note that my question is not about coulda, woulda, shouldas. It's about identifying the predator. Does this sound like a fox or a raccoon to y'all, so we can make decisions about fencing going forward.

DH had gone out to lock up the birds when he saw that they had not put themselves away as they normally would have at this time of evening. Instead they were all clustered in the run as far as they could get from the coop, looking and acting agitated. He called me and we did a little investigating. He found some feathers but no body. On further investigation I found her. This had just happened minutes earlier, apparently. I won't go into detail.

So, help me out, experts. What do you think? The fence is about 4' high. A coyote couldn't get through it. A raccoon would have climbed. The bird is almost full grown, about 15 weeks old, a EE pullet. I'm thinking fox.

Well if detail is given, explanation on the attackers kill strategy can be narrowed down.

 

[DuckWhisperer06]

I’ve heard that raccoons will pull a chickens head through the fence and chew heads off. If she didn’t have a head it could be a coon.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@OhZark Biddies

Often what happens is the chicken eater harasses the chickens and they run into a corner or against the run in a group, and then that chicken eater runs around and reaches through and grabs the chicken and tries to pull it through…

So it might not have actually gotten through the 2x4 wire... does that sound plausible in your case?

No, I don't think so. This was actually our second loss. Two nights ago something got into the run and all we had left was a pile of feathers not near the fencing but pretty much in the middle of the run. The first pullet was apparently eaten on the spot.

Also, it's a fairly enormous run and your scenario wouldn't work very well. The predator could harry the birds away from himself, but then he would have to run a quarter of a mile to get to them and by that time they would easily be safely in the middle of the run or huddled on the opposite side where he started. He'd run himself to death trying to play that game!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I’ve heard that raccoons will pull a chickens head through the fence and chew heads off. If she didn’t have a head it could be a coon.

She still had her head... but just barely.
ETA: It wasn't chewed off. The predator was trying to pull her through, and failed.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Well if detail is given, explanation on the attackers kill strategy can be narrowed down.

Okay but ... GRAPHIC.

Apparently we caught the culprit mid-crime. The body was lying on the near side of the fence, right up against it. It appeared to have been decapitated. I picked her up and realized she was still limp and warm, and as I moved her air came out of her lungs and she made a sound like a cross between a cluck and a long moan. I knew she was not alive, I have heard this sound from decapitated roosters before. Her neck was scalped of feathers but her head was still attached, though on the other side of the fence. The hole her head had gone through was bloody and had feathers on it, as though there had been quite a struggle. The bird did not fit through the opening as her wings would have prevented her going through.

As I said elsewhere, this is our second loss in three days. I have 23 birds left. I can borrow a shotgun if I have to.

Eta: I don't want to take a shotgun to a skunk! We didn't smell skunk. We also have possum in the area.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I guess I will sit outside in the run around roosting time to see what I can see and run "it" off, whatever "it" is. Rather discourage it than shoot it anyway. So far my poll is running 50-50 raccoon vs fox, with only two votes.
@Wyorp Rock , what do you think?
@Henriettamom919
@Shadrach opinions please? Who else?

 

[DuckWhisperer06]

Okay but ... GRAPHIC.

Apparently we caught the culprit mid-crime. The body was lying on the near side of the fence, right up against it. It appeared to have been decapitated. I picked her up and realized she was still limp and warm, and as I moved her air came out of her lungs and she made a sound like a cross between a cluck and a long moan. I knew she was not alive, I have heard this sound from decapitated roosters before. Her neck was scalped of feathers but her head was still attached, though on the other side of the fence. The hole her head had gone through was bloody and had feathers on it, as though there had been quite a struggle. The bird did not fit through the opening as her wings would have prevented her going through.

As I said elsewhere, this is our second loss in three days. I have 23 birds left. I can borrow a shotgun if I have to.

Eta: I don't want to take a shotgun to a skunk! We didn't smell skunk. We also have possum in the area.

I guess I will sit outside in the run around roosting time to see what I can see and run "it" off, whatever "it" is. Rather discourage it than shoot it anyway. So far my poll is running 50-50 raccoon vs fox, with only two votes.
@Wyorp Rock , what do you think?
@Henriettamom919
@Shadrach opinions please? Who else?

Personally, I’d shoot any predators or animals that come on our property with intentions of harming my birds. That includes stray dogs, I just don’t tolerate it. They’ll get a warning with snake shot from a .22 but if they come back after that it’s hollows points (I’ve only had a few come around but didn’t come back after the first warning) The only animals that I won’t shoot, are skunks and hawks/falcons. Snakes in the garage (nonvenomous) will be left alone, but any in the coop are gone.
Like I’ve said in many other posts, I don’t like to just shoot and kill things, I’m protecting what’s mine.

 

[Shadrach]

I'm afraid I can't be of any help. The predators we have here are not the same. Even animals that go by the same name are different it seems. Badgers here for example are pretty cute while those in the US looking at pictures look pretty mean.
The short answer is 2" x 4" will let a lot of creatures in. Half inch weldmesh/hardware cloth is pretty much a standard recommendation for runs and coops.
Sorry to read you've lost a hen.