Murder

[Neffer1167]

So I just found one of my chickens murdered. I never saw this coming. I have/had 9 girls. They have been together since they were shipped to me day old. They are 11 months old now. I’ve seen the scuffles a few times....pecking order....I get it. This is my third batch of chickens over the past 20 years. There’s been a murder or two every time. Usually an injured one. None of the current flock is/was showing any injury. I guess they would know better than me. Is this just nature? I feel like I should have been more aware. I go to their coop several times a day....it’s been cold a lot so I make sure they are ok and have water. I have 3 ducks too so I’m on the water a lot. I guess I just need a little reassurance

 

[CluckerFamily]

I am so sorry.
Is there any chance a predator got in?
Weasels can fit through small holes. They can fit through the chicken wire holes without any trouble.

 

[Geena]

Murder is generally only used in reference to humans

Do you think the chickens or ducks actually killed the dead chicken? That's not very likely unless one of your ducks happens to be a drake.

 

[Mellowmalt]

Murder is generally only used in reference to humans

Do you think the chickens or ducks actually killed the dead chicken? That's not very likely unless one of your ducks happens to be a drake.

my highschool teacher said that about one of my best poems on nature referrencing an eagle. I know they have to do it to survive but what word do we have to describe it except a not-murder which it technically is from the rabbit or pigeons point of view it was murdered and if it had babies they will think the same so it's a language technicality I find implies that animals are not capable of murder but I think they are.

 

[Geena]

my highschool teacher said that about one of my best poems on nature referrencing an eagle. I know they have to do it to survive but what word do we have to describe it except a not-murder which it technically is from the rabbit or pigeons point of view it was murdered and if it had babies they will think the same so it's a language technicality I find implies that animals are not capable of murder but I think they are.

It's simply that by definition murder is one human killing another human. Just like autopsy should only used in regard to humans, for animals it's a necropsy.
Murder also indicates malice and premeditation, and it's not always possible for us to know what the animal's reasoning was for doing what it did. Though it might seem like "murder", it's not, it's a killing.

 

[wf1992]

So I just found one of my chickens murdered. I never saw this coming. I have/had 9 girls. They have been together since they were shipped to me day old. They are 11 months old now. I’ve seen the scuffles a few times....pecking order....I get it. This is my third batch of chickens over the past 20 years. There’s been a murder or two every time. Usually an injured one. None of the current flock is/was showing any injury. I guess they would know better than me. Is this just nature? I feel like I should have been more aware. I go to their coop several times a day....it’s been cold a lot so I make sure they are ok and have water. I have 3 ducks too so I’m on the water a lot. I guess I just need a little reassurance

I'd worry about predators too. Unless you've multiple roosters who'd go at each other? Or, like you said, someone was injured and the others saw blood...

I love my chooks. I accept they're soul-less little critters, that given the chance would take all my treats, then turn around and peck my eye out. I love them anyway, and do my best for them. But sometimes chickens are just going to die, no matter how hard we try. I'm sorry about your pullet.

 

[Neffer1167]

I used the term murder in jest. Trying to be a little flip I guess. The ducks are females. No roosters. No predictors. Believe it or not, the only critters running around here are lots of bunnies and an occasional ground hog but they don’t eat chickens and are hibernating.
Its just what chickens do. Even if I had stopped it, I would have had to isolate her or they would have gotten her eventually anyway.

 

[50-45-1]

Ok, so finding a dead chicken in your coop or run can happen in many ways and for many reasons. Sometimes chickens die if natural reasons, heart attack is not uncommon.
You say you dont have preditors only rabbits, but ile bet if you put out a couple game cameras for a month or so you would find you are mistaken. Preditors live by being stealthy, quiet and unseen.
Are your other chickens showing feather loss or injuries?
Good luck!

 

[Geena]

Its just what chickens do.

I don't think that's normal. Yes, they pester and even bully each other at times, but I've never had pullets or hens kill one another.

 

[aart]

Pretty darn rare for a chicken to kill another chicken,
but not at all unusual for chickens to peck and/or feed on a dead chicken.