What took my entire flock at once?

[ptochsva]

5 chickens and a guinea, gone in the early evening. Nothing left but some feathers, not near the coop, they were still scratching around the barn. I was home, but whatever it was got them quickly enough we didn't hear them alarm. My dogs alerted, I should have paid more attention but I was feeding the baby and they didn't sound that excited (they are confined by the house).
Whatever it was appears to have taken some of them out in the pasture, or else carried them that direction, because I found more feathers there. I am completely puzzled - there are no birds and no bird parts to give me a clue. What in the world could carry off and presumbly eat 6 birds at once? All mature large fowl, one of them a sizeable rooster.
If it helps, we live in Northwestern VA.

-P

 

[okiechick57]

Oh I am so sorry........I can't imagine what could do that so fast.....

 

[Dogfish]

I would hope for you that only one was taken at worst, and the rest scattered and will return in the morning.

 

[ptochsva]

I thought about that, I hope you're right. If that's the case, I hope they're roosting somewhere relatively safe, and they won't all get picked off overnight...

 

[Mahonri]

Welcome to BYC. Sorry for your loss.

I too hope that only one was taken and that the others are hiding.

If they were all carried off at one it could be coyotes, coy dogs... etc...

 

[ivan3]

Also hoping for the best, but a pair of Red Fox cleared our neighbor's yard of 13 Silver Laced Wyandotte pullets in less than 15min. and left nothing but a few feathers.

 

[dchickenman]

All at once? I'd suspect thieves, not predators

 

[Turner]

Coyote - this time of year they are feeding babies.

 

[Turner]

or Fox - feeding babies too!

 

[zippy11455]

One of my ducks vanished leaving no trace and I was baffled until I spotted a fox hunting my remaining ducks a few days later. Now all my birds are in lock down behind electric poultry net. So far the rest are untouched.