What would remove only the head?

[Cara]

If it was free ranging i'd bet it was an owl. A raccoon will usually pull the head off trying to reach through and grab the chicken. Usually if they have access to the whole bird they will eat the breast and crop. I don't know why owls do it.

 

[Bec]

It was very odd. I found one of my bantam roosters years ago in the middle of the yard, but his whole breast was open and eaten...that was mid-day!

 

[ranchhand]

Oh Bec, no! I agree with bird of prey, probably an owl that couldn't carry the whole thing off. I am so sorry.

Was it at night or during the day?

 

[Bec]

I don't know, he was missing for a few days but I figured he was off with Nicholas again at the pond, he did that pretty often!

Here is his goodbye thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=249482

 

[clhbubba]

We had a possum do that here to a duck and two chickens before we could trap it.