Killed 17 chickens

[rudy6482]

This is not true, some wild animals will kill for fun and surplus if given the opportunity, this is especially true when a wild predator encounters 'confined' and 'helpless' domestic animals that are easy pickings and thus the appropriately named "henhouse syndrome"...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surplus_killing

It could have been a weasel or mink that have been known to kill entire flocks of chickens just to for the fun of it, and the 1/2" door opening would allow a weasel in... If small portions of the neck were eaten it could be an owl that have been known to prime pick only head/neck meat... If it is true that nothing at all was taken they might have been scared away before they started to eat or remove the animals to a new location for consumption...

It could also be a domestic, feral dog or even a fox just having fun...

I should have said "in my experience" first, I've never had a bird killed by a wild animal that didn't at least eat something. I have heard about a mink taking out every bird in the coop just for the blood, but I would think the signs would be obvious.