Chickens Discovered Again in Manhattan

It seems like there’s a bizarre trend happening on the Upper West Side of New York City. For the second time in four months, two dead chickens have been found in virtually the same area.

On Tuesday morning, two golden-feathered birds were spotted on the median at Broadway near West 91st Street. This unusual discovery has been reported widely.

This marks the third time in more than a year that similar chickens were found within a three-block radius in the area.

The prior incident occurred on May 24, when two chickens were discovered at the median near Broadway and West 89th Street, just before the Broadway Mall. They were found positioned in a curve facing the intersection of the streets.

Animal rights activists are raising concerns, suggesting these incidents may relate to ritualistic sacrifices. John Di Leonardo, the executive director of Humane Long Island, expressed worries that the pattern indicates an ongoing issue that might persist without intervention from law enforcement.

“Animal sacrifice is frequently tied to traditions like Santeria and voodoo,” Di Leonardo noted. Yet he emphasized that such practices can manifest in various ways, referencing ceremonies involving different animals for numerous cultural events.

Experts believe that these birds likely originated from one of the numerous live slaughter markets in New York City. Alarmingly, many of these markets have tested positive for avian flu this year.

“Over 20 live slaughter markets in the city are again reporting cases of avian flu,” Di Leonardo explained. He went on to discuss how these so-called “genocide markets” routinely violate public health regulations by selling live produce that participants might use for rituals.

This troubling pattern is not new; reports indicate that the issue dates back to June 2024, when the first pair of similar chickens was found near West 92nd Avenue and Broadway.