dead chickens returned

[raymaratea]

This is very strange. Something got into our chickens in their outdoor run in broad daylight yesterday. 1 girl dead in the yard, 3 more missing, and piles of feathers here and there. This morning I go out to check the remaining ladies in the coop, and there a 2 mostly eaten but with heads intact, and also mostly still feathered chickens laying in the yard. There was evidence of the animal having tried to get into the pen again, but it didn't move the boards and cinder block at all. We live in upstate NY, a wooded area but not secluded. What kind of animal would bring the dead chickens back after dragging them off into the woods?

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

First of all, welcome to BYC.
Sorry to hear about your chickens.....
I also live in upstate, NY in the country, surrounded by woods. Because of this, I don’t free range at all. My neighbor, nonetheless has lost 2 entire flocks to raccoon, minks, possum and fox. I have never heard of a predator returning the corpses..... Do you have a Trail Cam that you can hang to catch footage of what may be killing your chickens? That would be my suggestion at this point. Out of curiosity, where in NY do you live? I live in Caton, near Corning.

 

[snow5164]

A neighbor? Maybe their dog brought them home and they felt guilty
??

I know I watch too much tv

 

[DellaNTuff]

Do you have a dog? That is something mine would do. Not the killing but they are always finding dead stuff and dragging it home.

I find it odd that the same animal would return dead birds. Were there any tracks around? A trail cam would be great to get that way you know for sure.

 

[mowin]

Welcome fellow upstate NY'er.
Sorry for your troubles. It's sounds like a house pet to me. Maybe a cat? I know my cats would love to catch chipmunk and squirrels and try to bring them inside.

BTW, I'm East of Albany near the Mass border.

 

[EggWalrus]

How close is your nearest neighbors and do they own dogs?

 

[Harmony Fowl]

Just a thought. Is it possible the additional chickens you found were missing but alive at the time of your first discovery, returned to the vicinity of the coop and were killed then when the predator returned for another meal?

 

[EggWalrus]

When I first saw the title, I was afraid it was gonna be a Pet Cemetery situation.
Zombie Chickens!

 

[raymaratea]

First of all, welcome to BYC.
Sorry to hear about your chickens.....
I also live in upstate, NY in the country, surrounded by woods. Because of this, I don’t free range at all. My neighbor, nonetheless has lost 2 entire flocks to raccoon, minks, possum and fox. I have never heard of a predator returning the corpses..... Do you have a Trail Cam that you can hang to catch footage of what may be killing your chickens? That would be my suggestion at this point. Out of curiosity, where in NY do you live? I live in Caton, near Corning.

We live just outside Ithaca NY, and the neighbors dog did the first killing. Going to get a trail cam I think so we can at least turn the dog owner in for not keeping his dogs on his land. What kind of fencing do you have for your outdoor pen?

 

[raymaratea]

Just a thought. Is it possible the additional chickens you found were missing but alive at the time of your first discovery, returned to the vicinity of the coop and were killed then when the predator returned for another meal?

I suppose that is a possiblity....we searched all around the area for the missing before nightfall, but they would normally come back to the coop by dusk. I would hate to think they came back and we didn't know it. :-(