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Vicious chicken of Mountain View

post #1 of 5
9/17/11 at 8:16pm
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I found a dead roof rat in our chicken's coop last winter - but I wasn't sure how it died.  Her coop mate died last winter, so I think she thinks anything that moves is part of her flock.  Last Thursday - the chicken - which now free ranges in a backyard - was tossing a dead grey bird (Junco?) up in the air.  At first I though it was a mouse.  I didn't see either of the murders.  Is this typical hen behavior? Maybe she picked up some bad habits from the neighbor cats, which often come by to visit and hang out.  I saw her intimidate a dog off his bone once (To be sure the dog had been trained to fear chickens.)

This is a 14month old Buff - a good layer 5 to 6 eggs a week.

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post #2 of 5
9/17/11 at 8:19pm

My little bantam Leghorns would routinely kill sparrows that became trapped in their run. I wouldn't call it murder, just predation.

Pardon him Theodotus: he is a barbarian and thinks the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature. George Bernard Shaw
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Pardon him Theodotus: he is a barbarian and thinks the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature. George Bernard Shaw
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post #3 of 5
9/17/11 at 8:20pm

I always thought chickens were pretty opportunistic and will eat what ever they could catch.  I know our girls spend a great deal of time last winter playing keep-away with a mouse one of them had chased down and killed.  Our Juvie Easter Eggers found a snake that got tangled in their netting this summer and pecked it to death (didn't eat it, but left it a nice surprise for Mom when she went out to feed them). I do have a couple of pretty aggressive females who will fight each other like the roosters do.

Mom to Charley (Lab), Mariah (Am Pit), Gibson (Chi), nine cats (Montague, AllieCat, Sara, Matilda, Cadence, Mookey, TaraBelle, Tessa, and Ralphie) and 20 assorted chickens.
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Mom to Charley (Lab), Mariah (Am Pit), Gibson (Chi), nine cats (Montague, AllieCat, Sara, Matilda, Cadence, Mookey, TaraBelle, Tessa, and Ralphie) and 20 assorted chickens.
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post #4 of 5
9/17/11 at 8:20pm

Mine have killed and eaten skinks and rats before. Not what I'd call out of the ordinary... roll

[i]n [D]eepest [C]onfidence-

..::M.a.G.i.C. P.i.G.e.O.n::.. =]
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[i]n [D]eepest [C]onfidence-

..::M.a.G.i.C. P.i.G.e.O.n::.. =]
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post #5 of 5
9/18/11 at 8:55am

That's normal my ducks kill mice all the time.

I have 2 pekin ducks, Amy & Stella, a buff drake.named Humphrey,An EE named Poptart II, a BO named Honey, and an RIR named Cinna! I had a rooster but he got a new home, i miss you Ginger!!!!!!!Join UPC today! http://www.upc-online.org
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I have 2 pekin ducks, Amy & Stella, a buff drake.named Humphrey,An EE named Poptart II, a BO named Honey, and an RIR named Cinna! I had a rooster but he got a new home, i miss you Ginger!!!!!!!Join UPC today! http://www.upc-online.org
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