What killed 6 chickens in 30 minutes

[Nalyssa89]

I live in Massachusetts. I let out my 9 chickens to free range and within 30 minutes six adult full grown hens were dead. I heard nothing until a squawk and when I went to check 6 were already gone.

All that was left were piles of feathers. I saw two hawks circling but I don’t know how two hawks could have done that much damage in a short amount of time.

What could have done this?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It looks like damage from dogs.

 

[LRH97]

Certainly a canine of some sort, likely either a domestic dog or fox. Canines have a tendency to go berserk and just kill to kill when they encounter a whole group of birds. Have you found any remains at all?

So sorry for your losses.

 

[tlcmurphy]

Or a coyote.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Wow! More than one, maybe. I'm so sorry.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

Or a coyote.

A coyote has healthy survival instincts. Senseless murder of an entire flock is the act of a mindless beast, not an intelligent predator

 

[HollowOfWisps]

A coyote has healthy survival instincts. Senseless murder of an entire flock is the act of a mindless beast, not an intelligent predator

Not if there were multiple coyotes. Ever watched them hunt in small packs through a night scope? I have they will and can take down multiple animals especially if there are more than one. Senseless murder would have left the bodies to waste not taken them with them.

 

[nuthatched]

Dogs, coyotes or fox. So sorry.

 

[Nalyssa89]

Whatever killed them only left feathers. No bodies were found

 

[pennyJo1960]

Then maybe it was dogs ?