What killed my sweet Polish Bantam?

[Nikkistar13]

I have automatic coop doors. Sometimes my Polish Bantam, Frieda, would roost up on top of the run and miss the closing time. I would have to get on a ladder, scoop her up, give her kisses and tuck her in with everyone else- safe and sound. On this night, however, I got home after dusk. She wasn't in the coop with the others. She was found under a tree, about 15 feet from her secret, twilight roosting place. She was decapitated and her side was ripped open. Oh, the tears. She had a shock white crest, and I always worried that predators would spot her above all the other girls, as she was a little cotton top bouncing around the yard. I even kept it trimmed around her eyes, so she could see threats. Be ready. Be safe. Not this time.

The next day, I found her head about 10 feet from where I found her body, but it just the skull- no flesh or feathers. I also found some entrails and LOTS of feathers. I am sick as I write this. To find this horror, have to clean it up and to lose my sweet little Freida.

I have 5 other girls, and I recently rehomed my rooster, so I am kicking myself for not protecting her. What sort of predator may have done this? My yard/run/coop is not 100% predator proof, I admit. And I spend countless hours thiking through every last detail on how to keep them safe- to a fault. What do you think this was? Hawk? Owl? Raccoon? Last time I saw her on camera was around 2pm. Nothing after that from anyone, so it leads me to believe it was a daytime attack and they were all hiding after it.

Thanks for your help-
Nikki

 

[ChickenCanoe]

During the day, likely hawk. Dusk, probably either raccoon or owl. But given the scene and the victim, I'm guessing hawk.
Predators, especially aerial predators have better eyesight than we do so the white crest doesn't matter much. They can spot any color bird from extreme distances.
I once raised polish but I like to free range and knew how vulnerable they were to aerial predators, so I quit them.
There's a lot of information in the following thread that may shed more light on your situration.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...protect-your-chickens-from-predators.1443380/