- Aug 9, 2012
- 26
- 0
- 65
It's 5 degrees Fahrenheit here in Utah. Our flock is doing very well, despite the cold. However, went out to put my babies to bed tonight and found a huge mess of feathers spread all around the run. But not chicken feathers... These were tiny little brown and grey feathers. Then I saw this:

A sparrow's head and about and what was left of its spine was tossed in the corner. I didn't find any other bones and from the look of things, my beautiful, gentle chickens attacked and ate this sparrow! They had all gone to roost for the night and so none of the lovelies were around to look guilty. I have seen the chickens eat all sorts of bugs and such, even saw them chase mice, but never even contemplated them killing other birds out of competition or territory. The run is closed, so I know it wasn't any other predator, must've been the chickens... I'm guessing my 10lb rooster. He's pretty awesome, and quick. Though I'm sure all the hens joined in the fun of pulling the poor little thing to pieces! I didn't find any other bones or pieces anywhere. Just tons of feathers and this head.
A variety of doves and finches have been visiting our yard recently to share in the bounty of scratch we've been putting out, and I can't say it really bothers me that a sparrow has been killed. But if my roo goes after a dove, I might be sad.
So my question for everyone is: Have you ever heard of chickens killing and eating smaller birds?
A sparrow's head and about and what was left of its spine was tossed in the corner. I didn't find any other bones and from the look of things, my beautiful, gentle chickens attacked and ate this sparrow! They had all gone to roost for the night and so none of the lovelies were around to look guilty. I have seen the chickens eat all sorts of bugs and such, even saw them chase mice, but never even contemplated them killing other birds out of competition or territory. The run is closed, so I know it wasn't any other predator, must've been the chickens... I'm guessing my 10lb rooster. He's pretty awesome, and quick. Though I'm sure all the hens joined in the fun of pulling the poor little thing to pieces! I didn't find any other bones or pieces anywhere. Just tons of feathers and this head.
A variety of doves and finches have been visiting our yard recently to share in the bounty of scratch we've been putting out, and I can't say it really bothers me that a sparrow has been killed. But if my roo goes after a dove, I might be sad.
So my question for everyone is: Have you ever heard of chickens killing and eating smaller birds?