Chickens dug up and cannabalized one of their own

[Jajika]

I am experiencing the most disturbing and strangest behavior I have ever seen in the 15 years I've been raising chickens.

Background:

I had eight hens. I have a 90 square yard "pen" completely covered with poultry netting. There are five fruit trees and multiple bushes. Some call it "free ranging' in a yard. I have two coops inside this yard--one small for newbies and those who may need to be quarantined...otherwise a little space for one to lay. I have a larger coop...6'x6'...with a perch and five next boxes.

Wednesday, I discovered one of my tree sleepers, White Chicken, (her name) apparently got her head caught in a "v" in the branches and hung herself. This has never happened before in all the years they have been sleeping in the trees. It was an awful discovery.

I buried her in the yard...where I have always buried my chickens when they die. I dig a very, very deep hole in the dirt and let them return to nature.

Yesterday, when I went out to see them after work, I discovered the most disturbing event. I saw White feathers sticking out of the door to the small coop. This coop is at least 20 yards from where I buried her. When I opened the top, I saw she was being eaten by the other birds! It looked as though they were attacking her wing. This was NOT a raccoon issue. a Raccoon would have eaten her where she was buried.

These chickens had clearly dug her up and dragged her into the small coop!!! I have no idea how they dug so deep and dragged her all that way. It's just not to be believed!

In addition, two hens are brooding that have NEVER brooded before. they are three and four years old and this is the first time.

What is going on here? Has anyone ever experienced anything like this before? It's creepy and disturbing.

 

[annelions]

Wow, that is creepy and weird. I've definitely heard of chickens eating each other, but nothing like this. Last year, my chickens killed several doves and I had to bury them where, theoretically, the chickens could could get to them. I mean, within the same yard area. But they showed no interest, beyond thinking that the freshly dug earth was a pretty cool place to take a dust bath. They certainly didn't do any real digging. That's just... really weird.

 

[Jajika]

Thanks....yeah, it really creeped me out. Still does. I can't imagine them digging her up and dragging her all the way into the small coop...I mean really inside it. What else could it have been?

She was at least two feet under ground.

When I re-buried her I put a large round paver on top of her grave.

Geeez...and thanks for the response

 

[buckbye]

This is an amazing concept for a horror novel.

 

[Jajika]

I have mixed feelings about seeing the event. It's difficult to imagine the logistics.

Thanks for the notes.

 

[annelions]

This is an amazing concept for a horror novel.

Zombie Chicken?

 

[BirdsOfAnarchy]

Wow that is really traumatizing to see your hen hanging from a tree like that!

What I think happened is that a turkey vulture dug up your deceased hen. They have an incredible sense of smell and are quite observant. They are known to dig up buried animals and they could have plopped it's body close to the coop after feasting and thats where your hens took over. It would make sense that the body was then dragged inside.

It's a bird eat bird world.

 

[Jajika]

Hi BirdsOfAnarchy (love the name)

Thanks so much for responding. Appreciate it.

We do not live in an area where are turkey vultures, although your theory makes a lot of sense if we did.

Also, the yard, while large, is completely enclosed with substantially strong two layers of wired poultry netting. This is to keep the hawks out. We also have the NiteGuard lights that have kept night-time predators away ever since we had our first attack 15 years ago. They work.

So, I'm still shocked about the entire incident. It feels really strange that the chickens dug her up. Geez I wish I had a camera in there.

Anyway, really appreciate your caring.

 

[Jajika]

Hi Annelions:

Could be. Just don't know. So very strange.

 

[BirdsOfAnarchy]

Wow! Then @Jajika are you SURE your chicken was dead and not just temporarily passed out? She might have totally pulled a Romeo & Juliet.