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Chicken eating rat poop

post #1 of 6
4/2/12 at 6:36pm
Thread Starter 

OK - I know this is disgusting, but our Barred Rock has taken a liking to rat poop! sickbyc.gif  We never had pests until we got our chickens.  The rats sneak into the chicken yard and knaw on the coop door to eat the chicken feed.  We try to keep the food cleaned up and out of reach, but the rat(s) keeps coming back.  We've baited and killed many, but the word is out in the "rat community" where to find the free food!

Before I can look around and rid the chicken yard of rat droppings each morning, our Rocky searches for the little terds!  Again - Yuk! sickbyc.gif  She had gobbled dozens up before we came to realize what she was eating.

 

th.gifDoes anyone know if she is likely to die or contract a disease from the rats?  I know some people keep these creatures as pets and they seem rather healthy, but it is really un-nerving to have a favorite chicken looking for these morning delicasies from the neighborhood rodents!

Wife to 1 wonderful husband, homeschooling mom to 1 super son

 

Chickens: 1 RIR named Rhodie, 1 BO named Buffy, 1 PBR named Rocky!  2 EE named Angel and Ebony, 1 Welsummer named Ginger and 2 Golden Comets.

 

6 silkies named: Mysty Blue, Leo Pierre, Cinnamuffin, Cloud, Shadow and Icelynn

14 chicks in the brooder consisting of 3 Welsummers, 3 Barred Rocks, 2 Americanas and 6 d'Anvers

And...

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Wife to 1 wonderful husband, homeschooling mom to 1 super son

 

Chickens: 1 RIR named Rhodie, 1 BO named Buffy, 1 PBR named Rocky!  2 EE named Angel and Ebony, 1 Welsummer named Ginger and 2 Golden Comets.

 

6 silkies named: Mysty Blue, Leo Pierre, Cinnamuffin, Cloud, Shadow and Icelynn

14 chicks in the brooder consisting of 3 Welsummers, 3 Barred Rocks, 2 Americanas and 6 d'Anvers

And...

Reply

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post #2 of 6
4/2/12 at 8:09pm
Oh chickens. They'll eat anything. sickbyc.gif

Sorry, I don't really know how to help you. hmm.png

Mark 11:22-23

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

 

My Flock and Video Page

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mark 11:22-23

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.

 

My Flock and Video Page

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

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post #3 of 6
4/2/12 at 8:11pm

yes, they will, and its gross!

 

i dont know how to help you but i must defend rat lovers-

Rats are only CLEAN if they are pETS, WILD rats 

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post #4 of 6
4/2/12 at 8:12pm

are NOT clean,sorry 

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post #5 of 6
12/13/12 at 2:46am

Sorry to revive an old thread. I wondered if the OP has any updates. Are your chickens all still healthy or did they catch something? One of mine seems to have just vacuumed up a load, so I'm a bit concerned!

Friesians, Sebrights, Barnevelders, Araucanas, Cream Legbars, Dutch Bantams, Vorwerks, an Appenzeller Spitzhauben, a Sabelpoot and a few crosses .

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Friesians, Sebrights, Barnevelders, Araucanas, Cream Legbars, Dutch Bantams, Vorwerks, an Appenzeller Spitzhauben, a Sabelpoot and a few crosses .

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post #6 of 6
12/13/12 at 9:08am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Time-Out View Post

Sorry to revive an old thread. I wondered if the OP has any updates. Are your chickens all still healthy or did they catch something? One of mine seems to have just vacuumed up a load, so I'm a bit concerned!

Actually all my chickens are still alive and well!  They either have real good immune systems or we have clean rats  around here!lau.gif I hope your chicken is OK

Wife to 1 wonderful husband, homeschooling mom to 1 super son

 

Chickens: 1 RIR named Rhodie, 1 BO named Buffy, 1 PBR named Rocky!  2 EE named Angel and Ebony, 1 Welsummer named Ginger and 2 Golden Comets.

 

6 silkies named: Mysty Blue, Leo Pierre, Cinnamuffin, Cloud, Shadow and Icelynn

14 chicks in the brooder consisting of 3 Welsummers, 3 Barred Rocks, 2 Americanas and 6 d'Anvers

And...

Reply

Wife to 1 wonderful husband, homeschooling mom to 1 super son

 

Chickens: 1 RIR named Rhodie, 1 BO named Buffy, 1 PBR named Rocky!  2 EE named Angel and Ebony, 1 Welsummer named Ginger and 2 Golden Comets.

 

6 silkies named: Mysty Blue, Leo Pierre, Cinnamuffin, Cloud, Shadow and Icelynn

14 chicks in the brooder consisting of 3 Welsummers, 3 Barred Rocks, 2 Americanas and 6 d'Anvers

And...

Reply
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