Chickens bringing "presents"?

MichelleKing

Songster
Aug 25, 2018
207
341
132
Ohio
Has anyone ever had one of their chickens bring them a "present"? Similar to how a cat would? I really feel like no one will believe this, but it happened this morning and I dont know whether to be amazed or disturbed.

So this morning around 530am I let all the chickens out of their enclosed run to free range just like I do every morning. Nothing remarkable there.

My bantam frizzle polish, Alexa, disappears under my deck and I'm like well sh*t. But, I know she'll come back and she's done it before so I just let it go. I get the girls' treats all prepared and go in the run to disperse said treats. The gals follow me in as usual and start eating their treats and food and such....except Alexa. She didnt come back out from under the deck. So I said ok, she'll come sometime. I sat down, waited for her, and started my workday on my swing that is next to the run.

About an hour goes by and I see something out of the corner of my eye. Its Alexa and she's carrying something in her beak. She walks RIGHT UP TO ME, and drops a dead tiny baby bird at my feet. Then just stands there.

Um.... what.

I said ok alexa, ummmmmm. And I didnt know what to do. So I picked Alexa up and put her back in the run, where she just went about her business as usual. I then disposed of the dead bird; I think it was one of the robin's babies that probably fell out of the nest in the tree near the run.

So anyways. Maybe a coincidence and maybe not, but I'm interested to know if anyone has ever had an "experience" like this?
 
What I see that may be similar is a chicken is exhausted trying to get a prey item ready for swallowing. Exhaustion can be from attempts at processing or being chases by others trying to steal booty.

I have chicks that sometimes run to me carrying a leopard froglet for much the same reason. It is not for me, rather a location birds feels safe to prepare to eat.
 
What I see that may be similar is a chicken is exhausted trying to get a prey item ready for swallowing. Exhaustion can be from attempts at processing or being chases by others trying to steal booty.

I have chicks that sometimes run to me carrying a leopard froglet for much the same reason. It is not for me, rather a location birds feels safe to prepare to eat.
That makes sense. And yet, still highly disturbing that my little Alexa (bird) would eat another bird.... ewe.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom