THIEVES stole a family’s pet chickens, leaving behind just a single broken-off wing.

The Gradys, from Greenstead, Colchester, were stunned when the birds went missing, days after three rabbits were stolen and killed in a burglary at a home nearby.

They are convinced the culprit was not a fox because there was no sign of a struggle, and the door of the chicken run had been taken off the latch and left open.

Dad Jason Grady, 37, of Chase Court, said: “We had one fully-grown hen, two chicks and a guinea-fowl. I had checked on them at 8am and they were all fine, but when I was out taking the kids to school, I got a phone call from my wife to say they were all gone.

“All that was found was one wing outside my children’s playhouse. The kids were really upset about it. We went out and bought some more chickens to try to soften the blow.”

Mr Grady and wife Kellie, 32, who have four children, Victoria, 14, William, 12, Carl, nine, and Nadine, six, said the intruders also tried to take the family’s rabbit and five guinea pigs.

Mr Grady said: “The doors of their hutches had been tampered with. We heard what happened with the other family’s rabbits, and it seems like somebody is going around Greenstead looking for animals to kill.”

Police confirmed they are investigating the thefts along with the removal of the three rabbits from the other home, in the Forest Road area.

In that incident, the victims believe the rabbits were killed and body parts were found strewn nearby.

Anyone with information should call PC Lisa Vaughan-Jones, at Ipswich Road police station, on 0300 3334444.