Chickens all dead

[Korkat]

We had 6 chickens that were now about a year and a half old. We lock them up every night and let them free range every day in our fenced yard letting them out of the coop before we leave for work. This morning my wife let them out just before 8am when she was leaving for work. I came down around 10 am since I am off today and the chickens were all dead spread out across the back yard, a couple of plumes of feathers here and there. I never heard anything. One was clearly bit on the back of the neck, one was half eaten, and the other four appear to have injuries or bite marks on their back. No dogs around, and nothing else that gives me any clues what happened. We have had chickens for about 5 years and have never had something like this happen. We would occasionally lose one here and there but nothing like this. We are so upset. Any ideas? This all happened between 8 and 10 am. We would have never thought something like this would happen in the morning. Four of them I had to really look to find any type of injury but nothing looked that bad.

 

[Korkat]

We live in Michigan by the way.

 

[Brooks_]

Wolverine?

 

[Brooks_]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[Lduvet]

Do you have pine martens? I had my old silkies killed by one which went for the necks (it didn't carry the bodies away because they were too heavy). Our pine marten also left faeces at the scene to add insult to injury. Sorry for your loss

 

[Korkat]

Wolverine?

I don’t think we have any wolverines around here, I have never seen one.

 

[Brooks_]

I don’t think we have any wolverines around here, I have never seen one.

It was just a guess. Without any real evidence, we only have guesses.

 

[Korkat]

It was just a guess. Without any real evidence, we only have guesses.

I appreciate it.

 

[Matejka]

I would guess dog. That's what took my 6 out-in less than 2 hours

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Weasel, mink, or some type of dog or coyote would be my guess. Not many things will kill a flock in one go like that. So sorry for your loss. I recommend getting a game camera set up since it may come back.